Conditioned stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus is a term used in classical conditioning to refer to a previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a conditioned response.

Overview

In psychology, a conditioned stimulus is part of the process of classical conditioning, a type of learning discovered by Ivan Pavlov. The conditioned stimulus is initially neutral and does not elicit a particular response. However, when paired with an unconditioned stimulus, which naturally and automatically triggers a response, the conditioned stimulus eventually comes to trigger a similar response.

Process

The process of creating a conditioned stimulus involves repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus. For example, in Pavlov's classic experiment, the sound of a bell (the conditioned stimulus) was paired with the presentation of food (the unconditioned stimulus). After several pairings, the dogs began to salivate (the conditioned response) at the sound of the bell alone, even without the presentation of food.

Applications

Understanding the concept of a conditioned stimulus has important applications in various fields, including psychology, education, and marketing. For instance, in behavior therapy, conditioned stimuli are often used to help individuals unlearn harmful behaviors or learn new, beneficial ones.

See Also

• Unconditioned Stimulus
• Conditioned Response
• Classical Conditioning
• Ivan Pavlov

References

Conditioned stimulus Resources
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