Final answer:
The statement that getting anxious when thinking about a flu shot is a conditioned emotional response is true. This response is learned through classical conditioning and may be due to past negative experiences with injections. So the correct answer is option (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
If you start getting anxious when thinking about a flu shot, yes, you are experiencing a conditioned emotional response. This statement is true. A conditioned emotional response is a type of learned reaction to a stimulus that was previously neutral but has become associated with an emotion through classical conditioning.
In this context, the thought of getting a flu shot, which might have been neutral at first, has become associated with anxiety. This might happen because you have had an uncomfortable experience with injections in the past, making you anxious about them now. In terms of classical conditioning, the anxiety you feel is a learned response.
For example, if you had an unpleasant experience getting a flu shot before, such as feeling significant pain or getting sick afterward, your brain might have started associating flu shots with a negative experience.
So, the next time you think about getting a flu shot, your body might automatically respond with anxiety, even though the shot itself is a protective health measure. It's important to be aware of such responses and use tools like metacognition to reflect on and manage those emotions effectively.
Recognizing that you're having this response can be the first step in reducing the anxiety you feel about it.