Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What does CR represent in behavioral psychology?

1. Continuous Response

2. Controlled Reaction

3. Conditioned Response

4. Correct Response

The correct answer is: Conditioned Response

In behavioral psychology, CR stands for Conditioned Response. This term is crucial in understanding classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response after repeated pairings. For example, if a dog learns to associate the sound of a bell with being fed, the bell sound becomes a conditioned stimulus, and the salivation in response to the bell is the conditioned response. This concept is foundational in applied behavior analysis as it illustrates how behaviors can be learned and modified through conditioning. Understanding conditioned responses helps practitioners develop interventions that can effectively change maladaptive behaviors by establishing new associations. This knowledge is particularly useful in creating behavioral plans that leverage positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors in various populations.