Pavlov's experiments are interesting

Till now disputes on whether Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was a great scientist of his time, or it gave him real pleasure to see the torment of his "wards" have not ceased. Let's try to throw away emotions and look at everything impartially.

Essence of experiments

IP Pavlov in his laboratory, located near St. Petersburg, in Koltushi, experimented, studying the mechanisms of formation of the conditioned reflex. The scientist conducted his studies on dogs. All works were conducted in a kind of "Tower of Silence" - a special isolated soundproof chamber in which there were no external stimuli capable of affecting the purity of the experiment. The scientist at the same time observed the animal through a system of special glasses, through which he himself remained invisible to the dog. The dog was also fixed on a special machine that limited its movements.

Pavlov devoted most of his attention to the way the dog's salivary glands react to various external stimuli. To do this, the animal was operated on, leading the duct of the salivary gland outward to record the presence of salivation, its onset, the abundance and quality of saliva. Then Pavlov tried to evoke in the animal a conditioned response to a previously neutral stimulus - sound, light. In addition, the ends of the esophagus were also shown to the outside, in order to track the production of gastric juice in the dog.

The classic experience of Pavlov on dogs is that when an animal was immediately given food after the metronome strikes. After several such attempts, the dog began to salivate the sounds of the metronome. Pavlov's experiment with the light bulb acted on the same principle, but instead of a metronome, an ordinary lamp was used, after which the dog received food. So earlier an alien for an animal, the source became that external stimulus, which began to cause him a conditioned reflex. Unfortunately, not all the stimuli were so harmless. In his experiments Pavlov used electric current, various punishments.

Practical use

One of the most interesting examples of the application of Pavlov's experiments is the development of conditioned reflexes in coyotes to taste of lamb. For the emergence of this reflex, coyotes were thrown poisoned meat of sheep. Surprisingly, after the first time they stopped hunting for sheep, tied the meat with the resulting discomfort after receiving it. Many farmers immediately took this into service.

The role of experiments

The theory of the occurrence of conditioned reflexes, made more than a hundred years ago, and to this day remains one of the fundamental in the history of psychology. Even modern psychologists are guided by the results of Pavlov's experiments in the treatment of certain mental disorders, and also by forming behavioral reactions.

Dogs of Pavlova

Many of the operations that the scientist was carrying out ended pitifully for the animal. As Pavlov himself said, when he cuts and destroys a living animal, he suppresses in himself a caustic reproach that breaks down the artistic mechanism. But it does it only in the interests of truth and for the benefit of people. Carrying out his experiments, Pavlov did all surgical interventions only under anesthesia, so as not to cause the animal additional suffering. The attitude of the scientist to his wards is said by the monument to the dog he established in St. Petersburg.

Now the dog Pavlova - is not just a wordless experimental animal. This is a real martyr, a patient hero who suffered for the sake of helping science and the whole person. A lot of films have been shot about it, a lot of books have been written, monuments have been erected. Despite his death, the memory of this animal is still alive. The very name of Pavlova in any of us immediately associated with the dog, so you can safely say that this is the rare case when the memories of the experimental animal survived the recollection of the greatest scientist.

Conclusion

So was Pavlov a great scientist? This question can definitely be answered only positively. But were his methods justified? There is no unambiguous answer.

Undoubtedly, his contribution to psychology is invaluable, but, unfortunately, sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice some ethical norms for the sake of science. Let's not forget that all surviving animals were at the scientist on a lifelong pension. I would like to think that not only for the sake of further observations.