Question

Mabel clicks her tongue while tickling Francis. Eventually, Francis starts to squirm and giggle every time Mabel clicks her tongue, even when he is not being tickled. In this example, tongue clicking is a(n) ________. Group of answer choicesA. conditioned stimulusB. conditioned responseC. unconditioned responseD. unconditioned stimulus

Answer 1

Answer:

Tongue clicking is A. conditioned stimulus.

Explanation:

When it comes to classical conditioning, we can define a conditioned stimulus as a neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned stimulus and, eventually, begins to trigger a conditioned response. Tongue clicking was neutral; it did not cause any reaction in Francis. However, tongue clicking became associated with tickling. Tickling does cause Francis to squirm and giggle. Later, even if tickling is not happening, just the tongue clicking is enough to trigger the conditioned response of squirming and giggling. Therefore, tongue clicking is the conditioned stimulus.

Answer 2

Answer:

B. conditioned response.

Explanation:

A conditioned response is a behavior that does not come naturally, but must be learned by the individual by pairing a neutral stimulus (tongue clicking) with a potent stimulus. The potent stimulus is one that does not require any learning or conditioning to respond to appropriately. Neutral stimuli don't initially have any response associated with them, and the correct response has to be learned through repeated pairings with a potent stimulus. For example, People learn to associate a siren with a nearby emergency vehicle. When one learns to drive they also learn that they have to pull over to let emergency vehicles pass. So, if a driver pulls over as soon as they hear the sound of an emergency vehicle, their response is conditioned.

In this case, Mabel tongue clicking is a conditioned response.