Final answer:
The reason that children are afraid of the nurse who gave them a shot stems from principles discovered by Pavlov.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason that many children are afraid of the nurse who gave them a shot, and not just the needle itself, stems from principles discovered by Pavlov.
According to Pavlov's classical conditioning theory, an association is formed between a conditioned stimulus (in this case, the nurse) and an unconditioned stimulus (the pain from the shot). This association creates a learned fear response, in which the child becomes afraid of the nurse even before receiving a shot.
For example, if a child has previously experienced pain or discomfort when getting a shot, they may associate that negative experience with the nurse who administered the shot. This association leads to a fear response whenever they see the nurse, even if there is no needle present.