At a party, a friend of yours keeps popping balloons with a lighted cigarette. By the time he is about to pop the fifth balloon, you notice that your muscles tense and you squint each time the cigarette nears the balloon. Obviously,
A)the cigarette is a US.
B)the popping sound is a US.
C)squinting is a reinforcer.
D)shaping has occurred.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The popping sound is an unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally causes a startle response (tensing muscles and squinting), without the need for learning.

At a Party, a Friend of Yours Keeps Popping Balloons