Question

During a vacation trip to the desert, Bill was startled by a snake and subsequently became terrified of snakes. Over the years, he has also received several shocks from handling the frayed cord on his old toaster, and now feels slightly uncomfortable while handling it. What would most likely account for the difference in the amount of fear elicited in these two situations?

a) biological preparedness
b) incubation
c) temperament
d) US revaluation

Answer 1

a.biological preparedness.

The difference in the amount of fear elicited is best explained by

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference in the amount of fear elicited in the two situations can be best explained by biological preparedness.

Biological preparedness refers to the idea that humans and animals are biologically primed to fear certain stimuli that were historically associated with threats to survival. For example, our ancestors who lived in the desert would have been more likely to encounter dangerous snakes, so the fear of snakes is biologically prepared in us.

On the other hand, the fear response to handling a frayed cord on an old toaster is less intense because there is no evolutionary advantage to being afraid of toasters.

In this case, the fear of snakes elicits a stronger response because it is a biologically prepared fear, while the fear of handling a frayed toaster cord is a conditioned fear that is less intense.

The difference in the amount of fear Bill feels in relation to snakes versus his toaster is likely due to biological preparedness, which makes certain fears, like those of evolutionarily relevant threats such as snakes, more easily acquired and intense due to evolutionary survival needs.