OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What best describes classical conditioning?

1. A method of memorizing facts

2. A form of learning through repetition

3. A form of learning that occurs when a secondary stimulus is associated with a primary stimulus

4. A way to condition animals to respond to commands

The correct answer is: A form of learning that occurs when a secondary stimulus is associated with a primary stimulus

Classical conditioning is a fundamental concept in psychology that involves learning through the association of stimuli. The process occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a significant stimulus, leading to a learned response. In this case, a secondary stimulus (which initially elicits no response) is paired with a primary stimulus that naturally evokes a response. Over time, the neutral stimulus alone can evoke the same response, demonstrating that the organism has learned to associate the two stimuli. For example, in the famous experiment by Ivan Pavlov, dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell (the secondary stimulus) with the presentation of food (the primary stimulus). As a result, the dogs began to salivate in response to the bell, even when no food was presented. This illustrates how an indirect association can lead to a learned behavior, which is the essence of classical conditioning. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of classical conditioning. Memorizing facts, repeating actions, or conditioning animals to respond to commands lacks the specific element of associative learning central to classical conditioning.