Question

Laura watched a public service announcement to curb smoking in which a young boy describes how his mother died from lung cancer after smoking for twenty years. In this example the unconditioned response would be

a. the young boy's story.
b. contracting lung cancer after smoking for twenty years.
c. fear of smoking.
d. sadness regarding a mother's death.

Answer 1

In the example of Laura watching a public service announcement about the dangers of smoking, the unconditioned response is sadness regarding a mother's death. This response is a natural emotional reaction to the story without previous learning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The unconditioned response in the scenario where Laura watches a public service announcement about smoking is d. sadness regarding a mother's death.

An unconditioned response is the natural and automatic reaction to an unconditioned stimulus. In this case, the story of the boy and the death of his mother due to lung cancer is an emotional and poignant narrative that elicits an unconditioned response of sadness, without the need for prior learning or conditioning.

Smoking causes a multitude of health issues, including an increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and complications during pregnancy, as illustrated by warnings from health organizations such as the Surgeon General and the discoveries from large-scale research studies. The emotional impact of these consequences is often utilized in public service announcements to evoke strong sentiments against smoking and encourage smoking cessation.