In order to feed his cat, Mitchell has to open the kitchen drawer. Now whenever Mitchell opens the kitchen drawer-even if he's getting something other than cat food-his cat comes running in and starts meowing loudly while circling its food bowl. In this situation, the cat's behavior of running into the kitchen upon hearing the sound of the kitchen drawer is considered a(n):

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cat's behavior of running into the kitchen and meowing is a conditioned response. This is because the cat has learned to associate the sound of the kitchen drawer, which initially had no relevance to feeding, with the act of being fed.

In Order to Feed His Cat, Mitchell Has to Open