Answer: The term "heavily conditioned" refers to a person or group that has been influenced or shaped by repeated exposure to a particular set of stimuli or experiences. This can result in a strong and lasting response or behavior pattern, even in the absence of the original stimuli.
In psychology, "heavily conditioned" is often used to describe an individual who has undergone classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a stimuli that naturally elicits a response, eventually causing the neutral stimulus to evoke the same response.
In everyday language, "heavily conditioned" can refer to someone who has been subjected to repeated messages or experiences that have shaped their beliefs, attitudes, or habits. For example, a person who has grown up in a culture that values a particular religion or political ideology may be considered "heavily conditioned" in those beliefs.
Explanation: In the context of the given passage, the phrase "heavily conditioned" appears to refer to the fact that the British response was strongly influenced or shaped by a set of circumstances or conditions. The conditions mentioned in the passage include the need to transfer ships to Singapore, the requirement for deterrence of Japan, and the need for the United States to assume belligerency in the Atlantic. These conditions and circumstances appear to have had a significant impact on the British response, shaping and limiting the options available to them. The use of the term "heavily conditioned" suggests that these conditions and circumstances were so powerful and persistent that they effectively determined the outcome of the British response.