What is the Difference Between Conditioned Stimulus and Unconditioned Stimulus?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus lies in the response they elicit and the learning involved.
- Unconditioned Stimulus: An unconditioned stimulus (US) is a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a specific response without any prior learning or conditioning. For example, food causes salivation in dogs, and the smell of food causes hunger. These responses are innate and do not require any learning.
- Conditioned Stimulus: A conditioned stimulus (CS) is a previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a similar response. This stimulus produces a learned response, meaning the subject has to learn to associate it with a given outcome. For example, if a bell is rung every time food is presented, the bell becomes the conditioned stimulus, and it triggers a similar response as the unconditioned stimulus (food) when presented alone.
In summary, an unconditioned stimulus causes a natural and automatic response without any learning, while a conditioned stimulus produces a learned response after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus.
Comparative Table: Conditioned Stimulus vs Unconditioned Stimulus
The main difference between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus lies in the nature of the response they elicit. Here is a table comparing the two:
| Conditioned Stimulus | Unconditioned Stimulus |
|---|---|
| Learned stimulus, acquired through experience | Naturally occurring, automatic response |
| Neutral stimulus that becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus | A stimulus that elicits a reflex or automatic response without any prior learning |
| Requires prior learning or association with an unconditioned stimulus | Does not require prior learning or association, triggers an automatic response |
| Produces a learned response | Produces a natural and automatic response |
In summary, a conditioned stimulus is a neutral stimulus that becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, producing a learned response. On the other hand, an unconditioned stimulus is one that elicits a natural and automatic response without any prior learning.
- Stimulus vs Response
- Classical vs Operant Conditioning
- Conscious vs Unconscious
- Instinct vs Learned Behavior
- Reinforcement vs Punishment
- Innate vs Learned Behaviour
- Positive vs Negative Reinforcement
- Unconscious vs Subconscious
- Reward vs Incentive
- Spontaneous vs Nonspontaneous Reactions
- Conditional vs Subjunctive
- Condition vs Disease
- Cause vs Effect
- Spontaneous vs Stimulated Emission
- Functionalism vs Behaviorism
- Afferent vs Efferent
- Conscious vs Subconscious
- Sensory vs Somatosensory
- Conscious vs Preconscious