Definition

Noun: A learned reaction is a response or behavior that an organism develops through experience, training, or conditioning, rather than one that is innate or reflexive. It is an acquired association between a specific stimulus and a response.

Usage

This term is primarily used in psychology, behavioral science, and education to describe behaviors that are not instinctual. It emphasizes that the reaction was not present at birth but was gained.

Examples

• The dog's salivation at the sound of a bell is a classic example of a learned reaction.
• Feeling anxious when entering a dentist's office can be a learned reaction based on a past painful experience.
• In the experiment, the subject's fear of the blue light was a learned reaction established through conditioning.

Advanced Usage

• The concept is central to theories of classical and operant conditioning, where neutral stimuli become capable of eliciting learned reactions.
• The term often contrasts with "unconditioned response" or "reflex," which are automatic and unlearned.

Variants and Related Words

• Conditioned Response (CR): A more specific synonym in behavioral psychology, referring to a learned reaction that occurs in response to a conditioned stimulus.
• Acquired Response: A near-synonym emphasizing the aspect of gaining the reaction through experience.
• Learned Behavior: A broader term encompassing complex patterns of action, of which a learned reaction is often a component.

Synonyms

• Conditioned response
• Acquired response
• Learned response

Antonyms

• Unconditioned response
• Reflex
• Instinct
• Innate reaction

Noun

1. a reaction that has been acquired by learning