what is Pavlovian theory?

Pavlovian theory explains how behavior is affected by the stimulus paired with an organism's previous experiences. It has largely been used in the field of psychology, and is also often referred to as associative learning or classical conditioning. Classically, it is described as a set of procedures that take place in the nervous system. It is a more automatic form of learning.

The Pavlovian conditioning process can be described as:

Pavlovian theory is quite often contrasted with operant conditioning, which states that responses are controlled by their consequences (or rewards and punishments). The two types of learning are not mutually exclusive, however; they can be used together to produce the most efficient level of behavior.