UPUMS Nsg officer-2023
Applied Psychology
Easy

Who among the following proposed the theory of classical conditioning?

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Explanation

  • Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, is credited with the discovery of classical conditioning.
  • His research, initially on canine digestion, revealed that a neutral stimulus (like a bell) could be paired with an unconditioned stimulus (food) to elicit a conditioned response (salivation).
  • This form of learning involves creating an association between two stimuli, resulting in a learned response.
  • It is also known as respondent conditioning or Type-S conditioning.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: David Premack is known for the Premack Principle, a concept within operant conditioning, not classical conditioning.
  • Option B: Albert Bandura developed the Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes learning through observation and modeling, not stimulus-response association.
  • Option D: B.F. Skinner is the primary figure associated with Operant Conditioning, where voluntary behaviors are modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Theories of Learning: Classical Conditioning as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Classical conditioning helps nurses understand how patients may develop involuntary responses to clinical environments. For example, a patient might feel anxious (Conditioned Response) upon entering a hospital (Conditioned Stimulus) where they previously had a painful procedure (Unconditioned Stimulus).
  • This principle is the basis for behavioral therapies like systematic desensitization, which is used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders by gradually exposing a person to the feared stimulus while in a relaxed state.
  • What if? - If a pediatric patient cries and becomes fearful at the sight of anyone in a white coat, it's likely a conditioned response. A nurse could mitigate this by not wearing a white coat initially, or by associating their presence with a positive stimulus like a toy or sticker, a process known as counter-conditioning.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key concept in the question stem, which is 'theory of classical conditioning'.
  • This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of major psychological theorists and their contributions.
  • Systematically review the options, trying to match each theorist to their primary theory.
  • Recall that Ivan Pavlov is famously associated with his experiments on dogs, which led to the principles of classical conditioning.
  • Eliminate the other options by correctly associating them with their theories: B.F. Skinner with operant conditioning, Albert Bandura with social learning theory, and David Premack with the Premack Principle.
  • Confirm that Pavlov is the correct match for classical conditioning.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Theories of Learning: Classical Conditioning
  • Stem keywords: theory, classical conditioning, proposed
  • Lead-in keywords: Who

Question ID

QrMzYg2zhJXITA-7i7VKtD

Reference Book

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 5e p. 149-151

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 2459-2461

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 150-152

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