Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 15: Problem 4

Refer to the passage below: The last three times little Theresa visited Dr. Lopez for checkups, he administered a painful preventive immunization shot that left her in tears. Today, when her mother takes her for another checkup, Theresa begins to sob as soon as she comes face to face with Dr. Lopez, even before he has had a chance to say hello. Dr. Lopez is upset because his presence has become a _____ _____, for Theresa's crying.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Dr. Lopez's presence has become a 'conditioned stimulus' for Theresa's crying.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a learning process in which two stimuli are repeatedly paired. The first stimulus is neutral (something that had no response or meaning prior to conditioning) and the second one elicits a certain physiological or emotional response. After several repetitions, the neutral stimulus gets associated with the second one and starts to cause the same kind of response. This type of learning was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov in his experiment with dogs.
02

Application to the Problem

In the given exercise, Theresa used to cry because she associated the checkups with the painful immunization shots. Initially, Dr. Lopez, being a neutral stimulus, held no meaning for Theresa. However, she has been conditioned due to multiple repetitions of the same event – experiencing pain when she sees Dr. Lopez. Thus, she starts crying whenever she sees him even before he administers the shot.
03

Finding the Answer

Theresa's behavior demonstrates a conditioned emotional response. The term for the scenario is 'conditioned stimulus'. Therefore, Dr. Lopez has become a 'conditioned stimulus' for Theresa's crying because she has learnt to associate him with the discomfort of the shots.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Refer to the passage below: The last three times little Theresa visited Dr. Lopez for checkups, he administered a painful preventive immunization shot that left her in tears. Today, when her mother takes her for another checkup, Theresa begins to sob as soon as she comes face to face with Dr. Lopez, even before he has had a chance to say hello. The painful shot that Theresa received during each visit was a(n) _____ _____that elicited the _____ _____ , her tears.

Refer to the passage below: The last three times little Theresa visited Dr. Lopez for checkups, he administered a painful preventive immunization shot that left her in tears. Today, when her mother takes her for another checkup, Theresa begins to sob as soon as she comes face to face with Dr. Lopez, even before he has had a chance to say hello. Fortunately, Dr. Lopez gave Theresa no more shots for quite some time. Over that period she gradually stopped crying and even came to like him. __________ had occurred.

__________ is the name of the scientist responsible for discovering the learning phenomenon known as _________ conditioning, whereby an organism learns a response to a stimulus to which it normally would not respond.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Psychology Textbooks

Social Context of Behaviour

Read Explanation

Cognition

Read Explanation

Scientific Investigation

Read Explanation

Developmental Psychology

Read Explanation

Aggression

Read Explanation

Biopsychology

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free