Sex, Drugs, and Classical Conditioning

The movie, A Clockwork Orange, is a prime example of Ivan Pavlov's idea of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to induce a similar response.

The movie focuses on a 15-year-old boy named Alex DeLarge who was the self-proclaimed leader of a small gang in England. He is convicted of the murder of a cat-woman. He is sentenced to 14 years in prison.

After 2 years he voluntarily subjects himself to a experimental treatment called the Ludovico technique that would allow him to leave jail within a fortnight. The Ludovico technique is an example of classical conditioning.

In Alex's case, doctors subjected him to a series of violent images with Beethoven's 9th Symphony playing in the background. He is given drugs that cause him to have a near-death experience. The combination of the images, drugs, and music cause him to get sick whenever he hears Beethoven's 9th or tries to take part in any violent or sexual act.

In the eyes of the doctors, the treatment worked and Alex is cured of his violent behaviors. But in reality, Alex is no longer able to defend himself or make logical decisions in his life when violence may be involved.

For more information, please watch this video on classical conditioning.