Definition

Noun: - An acquired response that is under the control of (conditional on the occurrence of) a stimulus: A learned behavioral or physiological reaction that occurs predictably when a specific, previously neutral stimulus is presented, due to a history of association with another significant stimulus.

Usage

This term is primarily used in the field of psychology, specifically in behavioral studies and learning theory. It describes a response that has been learned through conditioning, as opposed to an innate or unconditioned reflex.

Examples

• In Pavlov's famous experiment, a dog salivating at the sound of a bell is a classic example of a conditioned reaction.
• The patient's anxiety in the dentist's office, triggered by the sound of the drill, had become a conditioned reaction.
• The researcher measured the conditioned reaction of the mouse to the light signal.

Advanced Usage

• Conditioned Emotional Response (CER): A specific type of conditioned reaction involving an emotional response, such as fear or pleasure, to a previously neutral stimulus.
• Higher-Order Conditioning: A process where a new conditioned reaction is established based on a previously learned conditioned stimulus, rather than an unconditioned one.

Variants and Related Words

• Conditioned Response (CR): The most common synonym and variant; the two terms are often used interchangeably.
• Conditioned Reflex: A more specific term often used when the learned response is an automatic, involuntary physiological reaction.
• Unconditioned Reaction/Response: The innate, unlearned reaction that naturally occurs to an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating to food).

Synonyms

• Conditioned Response (CR)
• Learned Response
• Acquired Reflex

Antonyms

• Unconditioned Response (UR)
• Unlearned Response
• Innate Reflex

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Classical Conditioning: The learning process through which a conditioned reaction is formed.
• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The originally neutral stimulus that, after association, triggers the conditioned reaction.
• Stimulus-Response Association: The core connection formed during conditioning that underlies the conditioned reaction.

Noun

1. an acquired response that is under the control of (conditional on the occurrence of) a stimulus