Question

Veronica had been working at Zenex Industries for eight months when her boss asked to see her in his office. She thought he wanted to talk about a promotion so she was quite excited, but instead of giving her a promotion, the boss told Veronica she was being laid off as a result of company downsizing. Veronica could feel her heart pounding as she listened to the news. Veronica was able to get a new job, but every time her new boss asks to talk to her in private, Veronica feels a little faint. In this example, the unconditioned response is a. her pounding heart when she heard she was being laid off. b. the faintness she feels when her new boss wants to talk to her in private.c. the bad news from her boss at Zenex Industries. d. her new boss asking for a private meeting.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A.

The unconditioned response in this scenario is Veronica's pounding heart when she heard she was being laid off. An unconditioned response is an unlearned behavior in reaction to an unconditional stimulus. Veronica's behavior, her heart pounding at the bad news, was an unlearned and natural reaction to a stimulus (event) that she had not been exposed to before.