Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning is topic 3.7 of AP Psychology, inside Development and Learning. This page works through three real practice questions on it, with the full reasoning behind each credited answer.

Practise this topic freeThe whole unit
32 questionsConcept Application100% with a figure
Worked examples

Three real classical conditioning questions

From the practice pool, not the mock papers — each with the reasoning that produces the answer.

100% of them come with a figure. Reading the graph or diagram correctly is most of the work here before any content knowledge applies.

91% test a single AP skill: Concept Application. That makes this topic unusually predictable to prepare for.

Concept Application · with figure

A dog initially salivates when food powder is placed in its mouth. After a bell is repeatedly sounded just before the powder appears, the dog salivates when it hears the bell alone. In the final test, what is the bell?

  1. AAn unconditioned response, because it is the food powder itself.
  2. BNegative reinforcement, because a pleasant event has been removed.
  3. CObservational learning, because the dog watched another dog salivate.
  4. DConditioned stimulus: it predicts food and elicits salivation.correct
Why D is correct

The bell changes from neutral to conditioned stimulus after repeated pairing.

Classical Conditioning reasoning here starts with "A dog initially salivates when food powder is placed in its mouth." and asks what mechanism fits. The credited option, "A conditioned stimulus, because it now predicts the food and elicits salivation", is supported because After pairing, the bell alone elicits the learned response. "Negative reinforcement, because a pleasant event has been removed" is a real-looking alternative, but No removal of an aversive stimulus is described; "Observational learning, because the dog watched another dog salivate" also fails because The dog learned through pairing, not by watching another animal. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Concept Application · with figure

After getting sick shortly after eating a new soup, a person feels nauseated when smelling that soup days later. Which learning effect is illustrated?

  1. ATaste aversioncorrect
  2. BToken economy
  3. COverjustification effect
  4. DEgocentrism
Why A is correct

The smell later elicits nausea after a single illness pairing.

classical conditioning is the mechanism that makes "After getting sick shortly after eating a new soup, a person feels nauseated when smelling that..." coherent. The credited option, "Taste aversion", is supported because A nausea response can become linked to a flavor after illness. "Token economy" is a real-looking alternative, but No exchangeable reward system is used; "Overjustification effect" also fails because No external reward reduces intrinsic motivation. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Concept Application · with figure

A dog salivates to a bell after the bell has been repeatedly paired with food. Then the bell is presented many times without food, and salivation weakens. Which process occurred?

  1. AGeneralization
  2. BPositive reinforcement
  3. CExtinctioncorrect
  4. DAccommodation
Why C is correct

The learned response weakens after the cue appears without food.

conditioned response is the mechanism that makes "A dog salivates to a bell after the bell has been repeatedly paired with food." coherent. The credited option, "Extinction", is supported because A conditioned response weakens when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus. "Generalization" is a real-looking alternative, but No response to similar stimuli is described; "Positive reinforcement" also fails because No behavior is increased by adding a reward. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

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Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Topic and unit names follow the College Board course framework. Question counts describe the PrepScore practice bank, not the exam.
Same unit
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Work classical conditioning until the reasoning is automatic.

Real AP questions with a full explanation on every answer, and a mistake bank that only clears when you get it right.

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