Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
conditioned stimulus
noun
/kənˈdɪʃ·ənd ˈstɪm·jʊ·ləs/
Definition
A conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, becomes associated with a certain response.
Examples
- The sound of a bell became a conditioned stimulus for the dog, leading it to salivate when it heard the bell.
- In the famous experiment by Pavlov, the conditioned stimulus was the sound that was linked to food, triggering a response.
Meaning
In psychology, a conditioned stimulus is used in classical conditioning where it elicits a response after a learning process.
Synonyms
- learned stimulus
- associative stimulus
