In the same scenario, which element becomes the conditioned stimulus after conditioning?

In the same scenario, which element becomes the conditioned stimulus after conditioning?

• A. The Bell
• B. The Food
• C. The Salivation
• D. The Dog

Answer: (A)

Classical conditioning shows how a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after it’s paired with something that naturally elicits a response. In this scenario, the dog’s food naturally triggers salivation—that’s the unconditioned response to the unconditioned stimulus. The bell starts as a neutral signal. After repeated pairings with the food, the bell alone begins to elicit salivation. At that point, the bell has become the conditioned stimulus, and the salivation to the bell is the conditioned response. The food remains the unconditioned stimulus, and the dog is the organism undergoing the learning.

Classical conditioning shows how a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after it’s paired with something that naturally elicits a response. In this scenario, the dog’s food naturally triggers salivation—that’s the unconditioned response to the unconditioned stimulus. The bell starts as a neutral signal. After repeated pairings with the food, the bell alone begins to elicit salivation. At that point, the bell has become the conditioned stimulus, and the salivation to the bell is the conditioned response. The food remains the unconditioned stimulus, and the dog is the organism undergoing the learning.