54. Which of the following is the best example of a behavior learned through classical conditioning?
Answer: D
Neil's mouth starts watering as he hears the sound of corn popping.
This scenario exemplifies classical conditioning as Neil's response of salivating is triggered by a neutral stimulus—the sound of corn popping—after it has been associated with the food (corn) in the past.
A) Carl's older brother shows him how to use the lawn mower.
This example illustrates observational learning rather than classical conditioning. Carl is learning a skill by watching his brother, which does not involve the association of stimuli and automatic responses that characterize classical conditioning.
B) Lucia imitates her mother braiding her hair.
Similar to Option A, this scenario depicts modeling or imitation. Lucia is not experiencing a conditioned response to a stimulus; instead, she is learning through observation and replication of behavior.
C) Britta smiles and laughs when her puppy runs toward her.
While Britta's emotional response to her puppy could indicate a positive reaction, it does not demonstrate classical conditioning. This behavior appears to be a natural response to the presence of her puppy, rather than a learned association between stimuli.
D) Neil's mouth starts watering as he hears the sound of corn popping.
This is a classic example of classical conditioning, where Neil has learned to associate the sound of corn popping with the expectation of food, leading to an involuntary salivation response. This aligns perfectly with the principles of classical conditioning.
E) Jovan's father takes him camping after he earns all As on his report card.
This scenario represents operant conditioning rather than classical conditioning. Jovan is being rewarded for his academic performance, which involves a different learning process based on consequences rather than stimulus-response associations.
Conclusion
Option D is definitively the best example of behavior learned through classical conditioning, as it illustrates the association between a neutral stimulus and an involuntary response. The other options either depict observational learning or operant conditioning, failing to capture the essence of classical conditioning's associative nature.