Question

Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, suffers from PTSD after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A certain acrid burning smell can trigger intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for her. This is an example of ____.

a.
positive reinforcement
c.
classical conditioning
b.
operant conditioning
d.
observational learning

Answer 1

The acrid burning smell triggering intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for Alejandra after witnessing the 9/11 attack is an example of classical conditioning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The acrid burning smell that triggers intense feelings of jitteriness and distress for Alejandra, a resident of lower Manhattan, after witnessing the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, is an example of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which an individual associates two stimuli together and learns to respond to a previously neutral stimulus.

In this case, the smell and the traumatic event have become associated in Alejandra's mind, leading to a fear response when she encounters that particular smell. The smell has become a conditioned stimulus (CS) that elicits a conditioned response (CR) of jitteriness and distress.

It is important to note that classical conditioning can occur unconsciously and can have a powerful impact on our behavior and emotions.