Classical conditioning, also known as Pavlovian conditioning, is a type of associative learning that was

first demonstrated by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov in the late 19th century. It is a
fundamental concept in psychology and helps explain how certain behaviors or responses become
associated with specific stimuli.

Here's how classical conditioning works:

1. Unconditioned Stimulus (US): This is a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a
response without any prior learning. For example, in Pavlov's famous experiment, food was
the unconditioned stimulus because it naturally elicits a dog's salivation.

2. Unconditioned Response (UR): This is the unlearned response that occurs in reaction to the
unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov's experiment, the unconditioned response was the dog's
salivation when presented with food.

3. Conditioned Stimulus (CS): This is a neutral stimulus that, through association with the
unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit a response. In Pavlov's experiment, a bell was initially
a neutral stimulus but became a conditioned stimulus when it was paired with food.

4. Conditioned Response (CR): This is the learned response to the conditioned stimulus, which
is similar to the unconditioned response. In Pavlov's experiment, the conditioned response
was the dog's salivation when it heard the bell ring.

The key principle of classical conditioning is that when a neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with an
unconditioned stimulus (US) over time and in close proximity, the neutral stimulus becomes a
conditioned stimulus (CS) capable of eliciting the conditioned response (CR) without the presence of
the unconditioned stimulus (US).

Classical conditioning is not limited to dogs and bells; it is a fundamental process that helps us
understand how people and animals learn various associations, including emotional reactions and
preferences. It has applications in psychology, education, and therapy and is essential in
understanding behaviors, phobias, and even advertising techniques.