Final answer:
Classical Conditioning is the theory in which an unrelated stimulus can be linked to a given response. It is exemplified by Pavlov's experiments with dogs, where the sound of a bell became associated with food, leading to salivation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that holds that a given response can be linked with an unrelated stimulus is Classical Conditioning. This form of associative learning was famously demonstrated through Ivan Pavlov's experiments with dogs. In his research, Pavlov presented dogs with a neutral stimulus, the sound of a bell, just before providing them food, which is an unconditioned stimulus that naturally caused the dogs to salivate, an unconditioned response. After several pairings, the dogs began to salivate upon hearing the bell alone, indicating that the previously neutral stimulus had become a conditioned stimulus capable of eliciting the conditioned response of salivation. This differs from Operant Conditioning, where an animal learns to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences through reinforcement or punishment.