Thank you Keiron - Pavlov's dog

Keiron sent us a message about our picture book "Pavlov's dog" as follows.
Thank you, Keiron!

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You appear to have misunderstood classical conditioning. Your description of Pavlov's experiment is correct, apart from the bit where the dog expects food - there is no expectation in CC, only an association between the stimulus and the response (ie., the tone and the salivation [note the absence of food from this association]). Nevertheless, raising fists is better explained with operant conditioning (see the work of BF Skinner). Classical conditioning can only account for emotions and basic reflexes like salivation.

I admire the aims of your website. I do not like wars, hatred etc., but your message would be more effective if the science was correct.

I hope I have helped, rather than cause offence.

Yours peacefully

Keiron