Final answer:
Classical conditioning involves a learned association between two stimuli, specifically a neutral stimulus that becomes a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicits a response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning involves a learned association between two stimuli, making option C the correct answer. This type of learning was first described by Ivan Pavlov, an example of which is when a dog salivates—what is known as the conditioned response—upon hearing a bell ring after the bell has been consistently paired with the presentation of food. Over time, through the pairing of these two stimuli, the previously neutral stimulus (bell) becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a similar response to the one naturally triggered by food, known as the unconditioned stimulus. Unlike operant conditioning, where a behavior is associated with its consequence, classical conditioning pairs a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to create a conditioned response.
Conditioning can sometimes occur through single pairing experiments, although multiple exposures are often required to strengthen the association. This associative learning is a fundamental concept in behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors that can be altered through environmental changes or behavioral modifications.