MENTAL MODEL · M4096

Classical Conditioning

BehaviorHigh supportPsychology

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

Classical conditioning (also respondent conditioning and Pavlovian conditioning) is a behavioral procedure in which a biologically potent stimulus (e.g. food, a puff of air on the eye) is paired with a neutral stimulus (e.g. the sound of a musical triangle). The term classical conditioning refers to the process of an automatic, conditioned response that is paired with a specific stimulus. It is es

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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Classical conditioning (also respondent conditioning and Pavlovian conditioning) is a behavioral procedure in which a biologically potent stimulus (e.g. food, a puff of air on the eye) is paired with

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Pavlov discovered that when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus, it eventually elicits a similar response on its own (e.g., a bell triggers salivation). This includes acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, and discrimination, and it is foundational to emotional learning and habit formation.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Understand how stimulus-response associations are formed (pairing)
use systematic desensitization to extinguish fears
use counterconditioning to relearn
use stimulus control to change habits
be mindful of generalization and discrimination.

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioningZH · Explicit
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