A conditioned stimulus is
A) a stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response without previous conditioning.
B) an unlearned reaction that occurs without previous conditioning.
C) a previously neutral stimulus that, through conditioning, acquires the capacity to elicit a conditioned response.
D) a learned reaction that occurs because of previous conditioning.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, through conditioning, acquires the capacity to elicit a conditioned response. Conditioning is the process by which an organism learns to associate two stimuli or a stimulus and a response. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A describes an unconditioned stimulus, option B describes an unconditioned response, and option D describes a conditioned response.

A Conditioned Stimulus Is