unconditioned stimulus
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In psychology, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.
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Examples (10)
- The smell of food is a classic unconditioned stimulus that naturally triggers salivation.
- In Pavlov's experiments, the meat powder served as the unconditioned stimulus for the dogs.
- A loud, unexpected noise often functions as an unconditioned stimulus, causing a startle response.
- Pain is an inherent unconditioned stimulus that elicits an immediate withdrawal reflex.
- Bright light is an unconditioned stimulus that automatically causes the pupils to constrict.
- For an infant, a sudden loss of support acts as an unconditioned stimulus for fear.
- Understanding the role of the unconditioned stimulus is fundamental to grasping classical conditioning.
- A puff of air directed at the eye is an unconditioned stimulus that consistently produces a blink.
- Certain chemical irritants are unconditioned stimuli that induce coughing or sneezing.
- The therapist explained how an unconditioned stimulus differs from a conditioned one in triggering reactions.