If Sheila says,"Pass the salt,please," you are likely to pass her the salt.You'll probably respond in the same way if Sheila (a chemistry major)instead asks,"Could you please hand me the sodium chloride crystals?" This observation seems to indicate that our behavior is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The example given shows that our behavior is not just determined by the physical aspects of the stimuli or simply by associations, but rather by the meaning that the stimuli hold for us. In this case, the request for salt can be made in different ways that have the same literal meaning, but the choice of words is based on what is meaningful and appropriate in the context. Thus, the response is not automatic or mechanical, but guided by our understanding of the situation and the intentions of the speaker.

If Sheila Says,"Pass the Salt,please," You Are Likely to Pass