Pavlov’s experiment is an example of
**Core Concept**
Pavlov's experiment is a classic demonstration of classical conditioning, a fundamental concept in learning and behavior. Ivan Pavlov's work involved studying the physiological response of salivation in dogs to the presentation of food, highlighting the association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Pavlov's experiment involved presenting a neutral stimulus (the sound of a bell) before presenting an unconditioned stimulus (food) to elicit an unconditioned response (salivation). Over time, the neutral stimulus became a conditioned stimulus that could elicit a conditioned response (salivation) in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus. This process of classical conditioning is characterized by the formation of an association between the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a new learned response.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because Pavlov's experiment is specifically an example of classical conditioning, not operant conditioning, which involves learning through reinforcement or punishment.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because Pavlov's experiment does not involve the concept of habituation, which is the decrease in response to a stimulus that occurs with repeated presentations.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because Pavlov's experiment is not an example of observational learning, which involves learning through observing others.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in understanding human behavior and learning, and its principles have been applied in various fields, including psychology, education, and medicine.
**Correct Answer:** C.