Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

In respondent behavior, what is the nature of the response?

1. It is voluntary and controlled

2. It is elicited without conscious thought

3. It occurs after a delay

4. It is learned through reinforcement

The correct answer is: It is elicited without conscious thought

In respondent behavior, the nature of the response is primarily elicited without conscious thought. Respondent behavior is often associated with classical conditioning, where a stimulus triggers a response automatically and involuntarily. This type of behavior is not usually a result of deliberate decision-making; rather, it occurs as a direct consequence of an environmental stimulus. For instance, in Pavlov's experiments with dogs, the sound of a bell acted as a stimulus that elicited salivation in the dogs without any conscious thought or voluntary control on their part. This highlights how certain responses are biologically based and hardwired, leading to automatic reactions to specific stimuli. Thus, the correct characterization of respondent behavior is that it occurs as a reflexive reaction to a stimulus, aligning with the idea of being elicited without conscious thought.