Which type of conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response?

The type of conditioning that involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response is classical conditioning. This learning process was famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov in his experiments with dogs, where he paired the sound of a bell (neutral stimulus) with the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus). Over time, the dogs began to salivate in response to the bell alone, demonstrating that the previously neutral stimulus had become a conditioned stimulus that elicited a conditioned response (salivation).

This process highlights the key characteristic of classical conditioning: the formation of associations between stimuli. The unconditioned stimulus naturally evokes a response without training, while the neutral stimulus, after repeated pairings, gains the ability to trigger a similar response on its own.

Operant conditioning differs in that it involves behavior and its consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment, rather than the association between stimuli. Social learning focuses on learning through observation and imitation, while cognitive learning encompasses processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving. These distinctions clarify why classical conditioning is the correct choice in this context.