Which statement best describes an unconditioned response?

• A. A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.
• B. An unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus.
• C. A voluntary action taken to avoid punishment.
• D. A response that is extinguished over time.

Answer: (B)

An unconditioned response is a reflexive, innate reaction to an unconditioned stimulus. It doesn’t require learning; it occurs naturally when the stimulus is presented. This is why the best description is that it’s an unlearned response that happens automatically in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. For example, a dog salivating when food is placed in front of it is an unconditioned response. The other ideas describe a learned response to a conditioned stimulus, a voluntary action shaped by consequences (operant conditioning), or a decline of a learned response over time (extinction).