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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

An infographic illustrating the three stages of Pavlovs classical conditioning experiment: 1. Before Conditioning Food → Salivation; Bell → No Salivation, 2. During Condition...
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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