Final answer:
The expected outcome after classical conditioning is that the conditioned response becomes similar to the unconditioned response; over time, extinction may occur where the conditioned response gradually weakens and finally disappears when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone. the correct option is c) The conditioned response becomes similar to the unconditioned response.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the process of classical conditioning has occurred, we would expect to see that the conditioned response becomes similar to the unconditioned response. This is because the organism starts to associate the conditioned stimulus (CS) with the unconditioned stimulus (US), leading to the conditioned response (CR) whenever the CS is presented, even in the absence of the US.
For example, if a sound is consistently paired with the sight or smell of food, an animal will begin to salivate in response to the sound alone, mirroring the unconditioned response to food. However, if the CS is repeatedly presented without the US, the conditioned response gradually weakens in a process called extinction. Over time, the organism will respond less and less until the response ceases, indicating that the learned association has diminished.