Who discovered the basic process of classical conditioning?

• A. John B. Watson
• B. Edward L. Thorndike
• C. Ivan Pavlov
• D. B. F. Skinner

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology that explains how organisms learn to associate two stimuli.
2. Recall the historical figures associated with learning theories: John B. Watson is known for behaviorism, Edward L. Thorndike for operant conditioning principles, and B. F. Skinner for operant conditioning and reinforcement.
3. Identify that Ivan Pavlov was the psychologist who first discovered and described the process of classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs, where he demonstrated how a neutral stimulus could become associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.
4. Recognize that Pavlov's work laid the foundation for understanding associative learning, which is the core of classical conditioning.
5. Conclude that the correct answer to who discovered the basic process of classical conditioning is Ivan Pavlov.