Pavlov-Psychology, Saliva, and GT Gone Bad

It all began rather innocently, if you ask me. I came into GT* one morning and found out behavioral psychology was today's topic. I expected a dry lesson on the basis of fear, or something like that.

Nope.

As it turned out, the lesson was actually interesting**. We got into a lengthy thirty-minute debate on whether the habits and activities a child was raised with would impact their career. The next few Powerpoint (all GT "lectures" are always on Powerpoints) slides dealt with associations in behavior, and some other famous figures.

And then the madness began.

The next slide featured a man named Pavlov. (Well, I don't remember his first name, but in the weeks that followed, everyone simply used his last name-Pavlov.) Apparently he had taught a dog how to salivate whenever a bell was rung. How? The next few slides explained: First, he put a dish of food in front of a dog, which caused the dog to salivate. Then, he rung a bell. No reactions that were drooling-related. Later, he rung the bell while the dog was eating his food. Because of the behavioral association between the food and the bell, afterward, the dog would start drooling whenever the bell was rung. Everyone was intrigued, but we didn't really think much of it until the next class period.

The next time we all met together, our teacher announced that we were going to recreate the Pavlov experiment. She placed small cups of lemonade powder in front of us, along with a spoon, and instructed for us to take a spoonful. Naturally, we felt the saliva forming in our mouth upon swallowing it.

Then, she said "Pavlov" every time we took a spoonful of powder. And-boom!-within 20 repetitions of that ritual, our minds had made that crucial association. Now, whenever we heard the name "Pavlov", we all began drooling.

However, most people became immune within 20 minutes of the experiment. Around six kids still salivated at the mention of the name, including 2 of my good friends-and me.

   *      *      *

What followed started out as harmless. The still drooling participants of the experiment called out "Pavlov!" in the hallways to each other to get a good laugh, while onlookers gave them blank stares. It seemed like a game-a fun inside joke between whoever had the elective at that block. It was also a common way to get revenge, because it seemed better at the time to give back that stolen (insert item here) than to face the wrath of the Pavlov.

But things escalated quicker than anyone could imagine.

One boy burst into school the next morning, quick to tell everyone in GT what had happened to him the night before. His sister had gotten a hold of his cell phone, he'd said, and recorded herself saying "Pavlov". Then she put it on repeat while he slept. To his shock, he woke up with saliva all over his pillow! Later on, his dad attempted to "recondition" him by slapping him (lightly) on the arm while shouting "Pavlov". Now, whenever anyone said "the P-word" as it came to be known to save humiliation, he would flinch back in fear.

The new common threat for thieves, teasers, and plain old annoying people? "I'm gonna Pavlov you if you don't stop!"

From the insanity, a "Jingle Bells" parody sprung up:

Pavlov bells, Pavlov bells,

Pavlov all the way!

Oh what Pavlov it is to Pavlov

Over Pavlov's grave-hey! 
Pavlov bells, Pavlov bells,
Pavlov all the way!
Oh what Pavlov it is to Pavlov
Over Pavlov's grave!

And every day at school I would walk in with fear in my heart, hoping that I would be the first to say "Pavlov" to my friend, one of the last of the ones who were still conditioned. It was like a little race every day-whoever could say "Pavlov" first got to cheer as the other one groaned in horror about what was coming.

But just as soon as everything started....it stopped.

*       *      * 

I first gained my immunity while on the bus ride portion of a field trip. My friend sat next to me, slamming me with the P-word: "So I'll stop talking about Pavlov if you Pavlov and Pavlov and Pavlov, but I don't want to Pavlov about Pavlov because Pavlov's a really great guy, isn't he Pavlov?"

I waited anxiously for the telltale saliva.

Nothing.

 I began laughing and laughing as my friend continued to Pavlov me, until he turned around and looked. "What is it?" he asked.

Oh, you have no idea how panic-stricken his facial expression was when I shouted, "I'm immune! I'm finally immune!" He could no longer annoy me!

In GT, I was confirmed of what I had suspected-"Pavlov" no longer controlled me. I dashed down the hall after class ended, clicking my heels together and hollering, "I'm free!"

An 8th grader from my class tried to stop me. "But don't you miss it, CJ?" he asked. "The saltiness of the liquid that springs forth from your throat every time somebody says Pavlov..Pavlov...Pavlov..."

He was attempting to recondition me. But it didn't work! I would never (unless we attempted that experiment again, but after how far we all took it, I think our teacher is regretting it) have to drool in the name of that word. Just a few weeks later, the same friend who caused my immunity became immune himself. There was nobody left to play the Pavlov game.

But I've told all my friends about what happened. Maybe I should condition them!!

Image by FlamingText.com

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*Because apparently I "think differently".

**For another interesting experiment we discussed: Asch Conformity Experiments