Who is associated with the concept of classical conditioning in dogs?

The concept of classical conditioning is primarily associated with Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist known for his groundbreaking work in behavioral psychology. Pavlov's most famous experiment involved dogs, where he discovered that they could be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell, which was paired with the presentation of food. This process involves creating an association between a neutral stimulus (the bell) and an unconditioned stimulus (the food) that naturally evokes a response (salivation). Through repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus alone could elicit the response, demonstrating the fundamental principles of classical conditioning.

Pavlov's findings are crucial as they laid the foundation for behaviorism and have been influential in understanding how learning and behavior modification can occur through associative processes. His work emphasized the relevance of observable behaviors and the ways environmental stimuli can affect responses, which is a cornerstone of applied psychology in social practice.