Unconditioned Stimulus
Definition
An unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally, or without learning, triggers a response.
Analogy
Think of the unconditioned stimulus as your favorite food. When you see it, you don't need to be taught to feel hungry or salivate; it happens automatically.
Related terms
Reflex: An automatic and immediate reaction to a specific stimulus.
Innate Behavior: A behavior that an organism is born with and does not have to learn.
Stimulus Generalization: The tendency for the conditioned response to occur in response to stimuli that are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus.
"Unconditioned Stimulus" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (3)
- What was the unconditioned stimulus in John Watson’s experiment with Little Albert?
- In classical conditioning, what is known as the initial stage when an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus takes place?
- What does the term 'unconditioned stimulus' refer to in classical conditioning?
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