Final answer:
Pavlov established the notion of classical conditioning, a learning process where organisms associate stimuli that happen together. This concept, pivotal to behaviorism, was demonstrated with dogs that learned to salivate at the sound of a bell when it was repeatedly paired with food.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pavlov's experiments established the notion of conditioning, specifically classical conditioning. This process, also known as Pavlovian conditioning, is where organisms learn to associate events or stimuli that repeatedly happen together. Pavlov demonstrated this through his famous experiments with dogs, initially involving the automatic reflex of salivation in response to food. He was able to condition the dogs to salivate in response to a neutral stimulus, like the ringing of a bell, by consistently pairing it with the presentation of food. Over time, the dogs began to associate the sound of the bell with food and would salivate at the sound, even in the absence of food.
Classical conditioning is a key element of the psychological philosophy known as behaviorism, which suggests that all behaviors can be modified by changes in the environment. Behaviorists, interested in observable behaviors rather than inner experiences, further explored the implications of Pavlov's work. Pavlov's contribution to psychology has been immensely influential, showing how stimulus-response bonds are formed and how they can explain many aspects of behavior and learning.