The process of association called ‘classical conditioning’ can be used to train a new behaviour or habit in a person or an animal.
Classical conditioning is a type of learning, in which a stimulus (a change in the environment) is used to produce a response from the animal. It was first observed by the Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov. When measuring salivation rates of dogs, he observed that the dogs produce saliva when they heard or smelt food in anticipation of feeding. This is a very natural reflex response. To study this further, he started ringing a bell every time he fed the dogs. The dog started ‘associating’ the bell with food, and thus salivating. After the bell and food were presented togethor for quite a while. Pavlov started ringing the bell without presenting any food. He observed that the dogs started salivating even when no food was presented. The bell in itself did not produce the dogs’ salivation before the experiment. However, by pairing the bell with food that did produce the salivation response, the bell was able to acquire the ability to trigger the salivation response.
This same principle can be used to train your dragon. Lure your dragon with some goat meat treat, and make her exhale ‘fire’ while your shout ‘Dracarys’. Once she spits some fire, praise her & give her the treat. With repeated trials, the dragon will associate her action of exhaling fire with your command of ‘Dracarys’. Gradually ease the treats to none, and you have a fire-breathing dragon at your command!
Watch a funny video on classical conditioning from the TV series ‘office’.
#psychology, #Persuasion & #BehavioralScience
