1. An Example of Classical Conditioning
A Shocking Experience
An Example of
Classical Conditioning

2. Please do not talk or give away any hints as you are reading this…

3. I told you that I had a surprise for you today. Your surprise is Mr
I told you that I had a surprise for you today. Your surprise is Mr. Patterson.

4. For the purpose of learning, he has agreed to let us SHOCK him.

5. This is not like the Milgram experiment
This is not like the Milgram experiment. We will really be shocking him with this device.

6. This is an ethical experiment. I have informed Mr
This is an ethical experiment. I have informed Mr. Patterson that we will be shocking him. He has given his consent to participate in this experiment.

7. What he does not know, is that he is that he will undergo the process of classical conditioning.

8. If this works as planned…
At first he will be startled when I administer the shock. Then he will pair the stopping of the music with the shock, and eventually I will take away the shock and he will be startled before he actually realizes that he has not been shocked yet.

9. I am going to play the music and shock him 3 times
I am going to play the music and shock him 3 times. On the 4th time I am only going to play the music, I will discreetly turn the device off before it shocks him a 4th time.

10. If it works…
Just the thought of the music stopping will cause him to be startled a 4th time…even though there was no actual shock.
This is called classical conditioning.