Question

Kenneth is three years old. He doesn't want to go to the doctor's office because, "Doctors give you shots." This is an example of:

A) Classical conditioning

B) Operant conditioning

C) Observational learning

D) Associative learning

Answer 1

Kenneth's fear of doctor's offices is an example of Classical conditioning, where he associates doctors with receiving shots, leading to an anticipatory fear response.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kenneth is three years old and he doesn't want to go to the doctor's office because "Doctors give you shots." This scenario is an example of Classical conditioning. In classical conditioning, a natural reflex responds to a stimulus. The repeated pairing of doctors with the experience of getting a shot has led Kenneth to develop an anticipatory fear response to the idea of visiting a doctor. Operant conditioning, in contrast, involves learning to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences, like getting a treat for a trick. Kenneth's reaction does not involve a behavior he chooses to perform or not perform; rather, it's a reflexive emotional response resulting from the repeated pairing of the two stimuli: doctors and shots.