Question at position 51 Watson, a research subject, is pricked with a needle every time he decides to have a sip of a soda. He is being conditioned to avoid drinking soda. In this scenario, the needle prick is thevestibular stimulus.auditory stimulus.unconditioned stimulus.perceptual stimulus.单项选择题
A
vestibular stimulus.
B
auditory stimulus.
C
unconditioned stimulus.
D
perceptual stimulus.

Question

Question at position 51 Watson, a research subject, is pricked with a needle every time he decides to have a sip of a soda. He is being conditioned to avoid drinking soda. In this scenario, the needle prick is thevestibular stimulus.auditory stimulus.unconditioned stimulus.perceptual stimulus.单项选择题

A

vestibular stimulus.

B

auditory stimulus.

C

unconditioned stimulus.

D

perceptual stimulus.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, let's identify what each term typically means in classical conditioning. An unconditioned stimulus (US) is something that naturally and automatically triggers a reflexive response without any prior learning. A conditioned stimulus (CS) is a neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the US, begins to evoke a response. Other options refer to types of sensory stimuli but do not capture the learning framework at play here.

Option 1: vestibular stimulus. This would relate to the sense of balance and motion. There is no mention of balance-related input in the scenario, so this option does not fit the conditioning setup described.

Option 2: auditory stimulus. This would be a sound stimulus. Again, the scenario specifies a needle prick as the aversive event, not a sound, so labeling the needle prick as an auditory stimulus would be inaccurate.

Option 3: unconditioned stimulus. In this case, the needle prick naturally produces an aversive reaction (pain or distress) without any prior learning. This fits the concept of the US, the stimulus that elicits a reflexive response before conditioning occurs.

Option 4: perceptual stimulus. This is a broad term that can refer to sensory perception in general. The scenario calls for a specific role in conditioning (the stimulus that elicits an unlearned response), and ‘perceptual stimulus’ is too vague and not the standard term used to describe the needle prick’s role in this procedure.

Putting it together, the needle prick functions as the stimulus that naturally elicits an unconditioned response, which is the hallmark of an unconditioned stimulus in classical conditioning.