Mabel clicks her tongue while tickling Francis. Eventually, Francis starts to squirm and giggle every time Mabel clicks her tongue, even when he is not being tickled. In this example, tongue clicking is a(n) . Group of answer choicesA. conditioned stimulusB. conditioned responseC. unconditioned responseD. unconditioned stimulus

Tongue clicking is A. conditioned stimulus.

Explanation:

When it comes to classical conditioning, we can define a conditioned stimulus as a neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned stimulus and, eventually, begins to trigger a conditioned response. Tongue clicking was neutral; it did not cause any reaction in Francis. However, tongue clicking became associated with tickling. Tickling does cause Francis to squirm and giggle. Later, even if tickling is not happening, just the tongue clicking is enough to trigger the conditioned response of squirming and giggling. Therefore, tongue clicking is the conditioned stimulus.