Preparing for an Important Event: Demonstrating the Modern View of Classical Conditioning

Abstract

A simple classroom demonstration can dramatically illustrate the process of classical conditioning. This demonstration differs from others because it elicits a conditioned response that differs significantly from the unconditioned response. As a result, this demonstration provides an effective introduction to the contemporary notion that the function of classical conditioning is to help an organism prepare itself for an important, upcoming event. The demonstration requires very little preparation and only a few minutes of class time. Data indicated that the procedure produced a conditioned response and that other processes, such as habituation, cannot explain the results.