US High School Psychology Practice Exam

What term describes a stimulus that elicits a response without prior learning?

1. Neutral stimulus

2. Conditioned stimulus

3. Unconditioned stimulus

4. Pairing stimulus

The correct answer is: Unconditioned stimulus

The term that describes a stimulus that elicits a response without prior learning is known as an unconditioned stimulus. This type of stimulus naturally triggers a response, typically a reflexive or instinctive reaction. For instance, food can serve as an unconditioned stimulus because it automatically causes a physiological response such as salivation in a hungry organism. The association between the unconditioned stimulus and its response occurs naturally and does not require any learning or conditioning. Neutral stimulus refers to a stimulus that does not initially elicit any specific response until it is associated with an unconditioned stimulus through conditioning. Conditioned stimulus is a term that describes a stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, becomes capable of eliciting a conditioned response. Pairing stimulus is not a standard term used in classical conditioning or the broader field of psychology. It may refer to the process of combining a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, but it does not define a particular type of stimulus in this context.