When Thomas was a little boy, his mother often gave him a piece of candy whenever she had to bandage up a scraped elbow or knee. Now that Thomas is in college, he struggles with his weight because every time he feels sad or lonely, he craves something sweet to eat. It is likely that for Thomas, eating candy now serves as a(n)
A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eating candy has become a conditioned response for Thomas. Initially, the candy was paired with the comfort provided by his mother during moments of physical pain, creating a learned association between receiving comfort (in the form of candy) and feeling better emotionally. Now, when Thomas feels sad or lonely, he craves candy as a means to seek comfort, demonstrating a conditioned response to his emotional state.

When Thomas Was a Little Boy, His Mother Often Gave