AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In Pavlov’s experiment, the food was the unconditioned stimulus. An unconditioned response is an automatic response to a stimulus. The dogs salivating for food is the unconditioned response in Pavlov’s experiment. A conditioned stimulus is a stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response.

Detailed explanation-2: -Pavlov (1927/1960) studied unconditioned reflexes with dogs. He found that placing meat powder in a dog’s mouth (US) elicits salivation (UR). The conditioning part of his experiment involved pairing various innocuous stimuli with the food, such that they preceded food delivery.

Detailed explanation-3: -Food is often an unconditioned stimulus as it elicits reactions of salivation and the desire to eat. It is one of the most basic unconditioned stimuli in nature, which is why it was used in the Pavlov’s dog experiment.

Detailed explanation-4: -For example, the smell of food is an unconditioned stimulus, a feeling of hunger in response to the smell is an unconditioned response, and the sound of a whistle when you smell the food is a conditioned stimulus.

Detailed explanation-5: -While the food you ate was previously a neutral stimulus, it becomes a conditioned stimulus through its association with the unconditioned stimulus (illness). As a result, you may develop a taste aversion in which just the idea of eating that same food again causes you to feel ill.