Pavlovian theory
A comment I received as a result about musing upon demand feeding mentioned Pavlov. I wasn't aware that Pavlov experimented with babies, his experiemts concerned classical conditioning and dogs. Classical conditioning and babies has been delved into, but that was with regard to conditioned blinking. However, by tracing along the theory of classical conditioning and reward for behaviour, in this case crying being the behaviour, and reward being fed, I can see that if the conditioned behaviour is not reinforced, baby isn't fed, then the behaviour will, according to the theory, become extinct. So, baby will not cry as it won't be rewarded. Deep concern, when do you feed the baby? I do agree with you, dear commentator, that a balance needs to be struck, but the question is on the timing of the conditioning. I was being the babies advocate in the muse in question. Never fear I have not forgotten Mum and will doubtless delve into her trials at some other date. Possibly, if my daughter turns up exhausted and tearful following sleepless days and nights, expecting me to have all the answers. Which I won't. Only suggestions and different perspectives.
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(28.2.04 18:55) Its a while since I've been called dear! I'm hoping it was a term of endearment as opposed to condescension. I wished to offer another perspective to the one you had discussed on your blog. This is a subject of great personal interest to me at the moment as it is for many other bloggers on 20six. With regard to my comments about Pavlov , his explicit conditioning procedures are considered useful laboratory models for what happens in the natural world. People also display natural food-related behaviour in response to stimuli that are reliably paired or associated with food. Pavlov merely provided a procedure for modeling and investigating these natural phenomena in the laboratory, and this model is still used to investigate the natural behavior of organisms. My experience of education with regard to feeding is wildly contradictory and hugely emotive, depending on who you speak to at the time. Its a frightening time and I just wanted to comment that demand feeding doesn't suit everyone. It wasn't meant as a personal affront and I apologise if I offended you in any way. |