In classical conditioning, learning is evident when a
stimulus automatically produces a response without a prior history of experience.
spontaneously emitted response increases in frequency as a result of its consequences.
stimulus which did not initially produce a response now elicits that response.
subject repeats an action he or she has observed in another and is praised for it.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is:
stimulus which did not initially produce a response now elicits that response.
Explanation:
Classical conditioning, developed by Ivan Pavlov, is a fundamental form of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that automatically triggers a response. Over time, the neutral stimulus comes to evoke a response on its own, even in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus. This learned response is known as the conditioned response (CR), and the stimulus that now elicits it is called the conditioned stimulus (CS).
The classical conditioning process involves several stages:
- Before Conditioning:
- The unconditioned stimulus (US), such as food, naturally triggers an unconditioned response (UR), such as salivation.
- A neutral stimulus (NS), like a bell, does not elicit any response.
- During Conditioning:
- The neutral stimulus (bell) is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus (food).
- The neutral stimulus, through association with the unconditioned stimulus, begins to elicit a similar response to the unconditioned response (salivation).
- After Conditioning:
- The neutral stimulus (bell), now a conditioned stimulus (CS), triggers the conditioned response (CR) (salivation) even when no food (US) is present.
Thus, the learning in classical conditioning is evident when a stimulus, which did not initially produce a response, now elicits that response after it has been associated with the unconditioned stimulus.
The other options in the question relate to different types of learning:
- Spontaneously emitted response increasing in frequency refers to operant conditioning, not classical conditioning. This is learning based on consequences (reinforcement or punishment) of a behavior.
- Subject repeating an action observed in another and being praised for it refers to observational learning (social learning theory) rather than classical conditioning.