Question

Najiah was delighted when she learned her family was going to the Riyadh festival. When they reached Riyadh festival the temperature was in excess of 100° F, but Najiah didn't care because she was very excited. Najiah stopped and watched some clowns performing next to the merry go round. As she watched the tricks of the clowns with the merry-go-round music playing in the background, Najiah got more and more sweaty and uncomfortable. Eventually, she fainted from the heat. After that trip, every time Najiah hears merry-go-round music she feels a little dizzy.

1. What is the unconditioned stimulus?
2. What is the unconditioned response?
3. What is the neutral stimulus that becomes the conditioned stimulus?
4. What is the conditioned response?
5. Give an example of generalization, considering the above situation.

Answer 1

1. The unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that elicits a natural response. In this case, high temperature is an unconditioned stimulus.

2. An unconditioned response is a natural response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus. Dizziness and fainting from the high temperature is an unconditioned response.

3. A neutral stimulus initially does not elicit any response. However, after its association with the unconditioned stimulus, it becomes a conditioned stimulus. Here, the merry go round music was the neutral stimulus that became the conditioned stimulus.

4. The conditioned response us dizziness on hearing the merry go round music.

5. Stimulus generalisation occurs when a conditioned response comes to be elicited by a stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus. Thus, if Naijah feels dizzy in response to other tunes that sound like the merry go round music, it will be an example of generalisation.