Introductory Psychology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is a key component of classical conditioning?

1. Responses

2. Counterconditioning

3. Stimuli

4. Reinforcement

The correct answer is: Stimuli

Stimuli are a key component of classical conditioning because they are the cues or events that trigger a response in an organism. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. The other options, responses, counterconditioning, and reinforcement, may be involved in the process of classical conditioning, but they are not the defining characteristic or key component of the theory. Responses are the behaviors or reactions produced by the organism, but they are not the focus of classical conditioning. Counterconditioning involves replacing an undesirable response with a more desirable one, and while this may occur in classical conditioning, it is not a necessary component. Reinforcement is a concept more closely associated with operant conditioning, where behaviors are strengthened through reinforcement. In classical conditioning, the focus is on the pairing of neutral and unconditioned stimuli, rather than a specific response being reinforced