AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A neutral stimulus is a stimulus that at first elicits no response. Pavlov introduced the ringing of the bell as a neutral stimulus. An unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that leads to an automatic response. In Pavlov’s experiment, the food was the unconditioned stimulus.

Detailed explanation-2: -neutral stimulus does not initially elicit a response from an organism. The word neutral means unbiased and unaffiliated. As such, a neutral stimulus is not affiliated with any particular response.

Detailed explanation-3: -The process by which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a response through association with a stimulus that already elicits a similar or related response. The response is termed a reflex or a respondent.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Neutral Stimulus A good example of a neutral stimulus is a sound or a song. When it is initially presented, the neutral stimulus has no effect on behavior. As it is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus, it will begin to cause the same response as the UCS.

Detailed explanation-5: -An unconditioned stimulus (UCS or US) can naturally elicit an automatic response without prior conditioning or learning. It is also called the primary reinforcer.