Definition:
In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (US) is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response. For example, when you smell one of your favorite foods, you may immediately feel very hungry. In this example, the smell of the food is the unconditioned stimulus.
Some more examples of the unconditioned stimulus include:
- A feather tickling your nose causes you to sneeze. The feather tickling your nose is the unconditioned stimulus.
- Pollen from grass and flowers causes you to sneeze. The pollen from the grass and flowers is the unconditioned stimulus.
In each of these examples, the US naturally triggers an unconditioned response. You don't have to learn to respond to the US.
Related Terms:
More Psychology Definitions: The Psychology Dictionary
Browse the Psychology Dictionary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |