Describe Classical Conditioning and give an example of how it explains phobias

Classical Conditioning modifies automatic behaviours though the process of association. The conditioning can happen by pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus which automatically triggers an uncondtioned repsonse. Through repeated or one-time association the neurtral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimuls and thus causes a conditioned repsonse regardless of whether the unconditoned stimulus is present or not. This can lead to the development of phobias. For example, Watson and Rayner found that when they banged a hammer against a metal bar it caused a child (Albert B) to cry. The loud noise is the unconditioned stimulus and the reaction of crying is the unconditoned reaction. This is because nothing has been manipulated and is a natural display of cause and effect. When they presented a white rat infront of the child, there was no reaction but when they created the loud noise the child cried. After several tests, the child associated the presence of the rat with the loud noise and would cry whenever it was shown without the loud noise. This shows the rat turning from a neutral stimulus to a conditioned stimulus. This explains how phobias can form, from associating something with a distressing outcome.