AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In Pavlov’s experiment the UCR was the dog salivating. He then paired (associated) a neutral stimulus (a stimulus that would not produce the unconditioned response) with the unconditioned stimulus. Pavlov chose to use a bell as the neutral stimulus which he rang every time he gave the dog the food.

Detailed explanation-2: -Classical conditioning requires the existence of an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that elicits an unconditioned response (UCR), that is, that reliably elicits an unlearned response, in the experimental subject. UCRs (unlearned responses) are also known as reflexes.

Detailed explanation-3: -For example, dogs don’t learn to salivate whenever they see food. This reflex is ‘hard-wired’ into the dog. In behaviorist terms, food is an unconditioned stimulus and salivation is an unconditioned response. (i.e., a stimulus-response connection that required no learning).

Detailed explanation-4: -Answer and Explanation: The correct answer is a. unconditioned stimulus. The meat powder is the unconditioned stimulus since Pavlov did not need to intervene with conditioning measures to teach dogs to salivate to the meat powder.

Detailed explanation-5: -What do all these abbreviations mean? UCS=US=unconditioned stimulus. UCR=UR=unconditioned response. CS=conditioned stimulus. CR=conditioned response.