Which concept describes learning by associating a neutral stimulus with a meaningful one to elicit a conditioned response?

• A. Classical conditioning
• B. Operant conditioning
• C. Reinforcement
• D. Punishment

Answer: (A)

Classical conditioning describes learning that happens when a neutral stimulus is paired with a meaningful one so that the neutral stimulus comes to trigger a conditioned response. In this process, the unconditioned stimulus naturally elicits an unconditioned response. After repeated pairings, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and the response becomes a conditioned response, similar to the original reflex. A classic example is Pavlov's dogs: food reliably causes salivation, so a neutral stimulus like a bell, paired with the food, eventually elicits salivation on its own. This differs from operant conditioning, where learning is about voluntary behaviors shaped by consequences such as reinforcement or punishment. So the described concept is classical conditioning.