The document discusses classical conditioning theory, first introduced by Ivan Pavlov in 1927, focusing on the learning process through associations between stimuli and responses, especially in the context of pedodontics and preventive dentistry. It explains key concepts such as unconditioned and conditioned stimuli and responses, emphasizing their implications for children's reactions during dental visits. Additionally, the document outlines the merits and demerits of classical conditioning, highlighting its scientific basis while acknowledging its deterministic nature.

1. CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
THEORY
PEDODONTICS AND
PREVENTIVE
DENTISTRY
KAVITHA.R
4TH YEAR

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Experiment
 Example
 Principles
 Components of classical conditioning theory
 Dental application
 Merits and demerits
 Reference

3. CLASSICAL CONDITIONING THEORY
This theory was first described by the
Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov in 1927.
He discovered during his studies of
reflexes that apparently un associated
stimuli could produce the reflexive

4. PRINCIPLES
Acquisition
Generalization
Extinction
Discrimination
Learning a new response from the environment
by conditioning
It is the act or process of responding to a stimulus
similar to but distinct from the conditioned stimulus
Removal of conditioned behaviour results if the
association between the conditioned and the
unconditioned response is not reinforced.
It is the opposite of generalization i.e. Differentiating
from each stimulus

8. EXAMPLES
Acquisition
Salivation in
response to bell
sound
Generalization
Salivation in
response to
similar sound of
bell
Extinction
Any change in the
sound of the bell
may lead to delay
in response
Discrimination
Differentiating
from the sound of
bell and music

9. Unconditioned stimulus
o It is defined as a stimulus that elicits unconditioned
response as in withdrawal from hot radiator,
contraction of pupil on exposure to light. It evokes a
response without the organism going through any
previous learning occurring naturally.
 Eg-Smell of food
 Evokes response and cause automatic reflex.
Unconditioned response
o An unconditioned response is a response that is
reflexive and involuntary in nature which is reliably
induced every time an organism comes across to
biologically significant stimuli.
 Eg- Salivation
 Automatically happens and continuously thinking
about that.

10. Conditioned response
o A conditioned response is a behaviour arising from a
learned response towards a previously neutral
stimuli
 Eg-Salivation in response to bell
 Reflex that you have learnt
Conditioned stimulus
o It is a even that produces an involuntary response
that after repeated being paired with an
unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicit that
behaviour
 Eg-Bell sound
 Created by learning and no response is obtained

11. DENTAL APPLICATION:
 A young child is exposed to an initial stimulus like sound of the handpiece which produces
anxiety. This is an unconditioned reflex. When the sound of the handpiece was coupled with
dentist who was the neutral stimulus, it again produced an unconditioned reflex of anxiety. -
Later when dentist was presented alone, it also produced a conditioned response of anxiety

12.  Classical conditioning occurs readily with young children and has
considerable impact on them on first dental visit. By the time a child is brought
for the first visit to a dentist, it is highly likely that the child would have had
many experiences with other doctors.

13.  When child experiences pain, reflex reaction is crying and withdrawal.
 In Pavlovian terms, the infliction of pain is unconditioned stimulus.
 For instance, it is unusual for a child to encounter people who are dressed entirely in white uniforms or long
white coats.

16.  If the unconditioned stimulus of painful treatment comes to be associated with the conditioned stimulus of
white coats, a child may cry and withdraw immediately at the first sight of a white coated adult.
 Later, the mere sight of the white coat is enough to produce the reflex behavior initially associated with pain.
 If individual in white coats are the ones who give painful injections that cause crying, the sight of an individual
in white coat soon may provoke an outburst of crying

17. MERITS & DEMERITS OF CLASIICAL CONDITIONED THEORY
MERITS DEMERITS
A strength of classical theory is that it is
scientific
Classical conditioning emphasizes the
importance of learning from the environment
and support nurture over nature
based on empirical evidence carried out by
controlled experiments
Final criticism of classical conditioning theory
that it is deterministic
Conditioning is also a reductionist explanation
of behaviour
Does not allow any free will in the individual
Complex behaviour is broken down into smaller
stimulus

18. Thank you