In classical conditioning, the stimulus that naturally elicits a response before learning is called the

In classical conditioning, the stimulus that naturally elicits a response before learning is called the

• A. Primary reinforcer
• B. Conditioned stimulus
• C. Unconditioned stimulus
• D. Neutral stimulus

Answer: (C)

Unconditioned stimulus is the stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any learning. In Pavlov’s classic example, food automatically triggers salivation, so food is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation is the unconditioned response. A neutral stimulus doesn’t cause the response at first; after it’s paired with the unconditioned stimulus, it becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a learned response. A primary reinforcer belongs to operant conditioning and isn’t about triggering a reflexive response before learning. So the term that fits the prompt is unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned stimulus is the stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any learning. In Pavlov’s classic example, food automatically triggers salivation, so food is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation is the unconditioned response. A neutral stimulus doesn’t cause the response at first; after it’s paired with the unconditioned stimulus, it becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a learned response. A primary reinforcer belongs to operant conditioning and isn’t about triggering a reflexive response before learning. So the term that fits the prompt is unconditioned stimulus.