Question

What type of conditioning pairs a pleasant stimulus with a fearful one in order to counteract the fear?

a. Classical conditioning
b. Operant conditioning
c. Counterconditioning
d. Social conditioning

Answer 1

The type of conditioning that pairs a pleasant stimulus with a fearful one to help overcome fear is called counterconditioning, a form of classical conditioning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of conditioning that pairs a pleasant stimulus with a fearful one to counteract the fear is known as counterconditioning. This is a type of classical conditioning, also called Pavlovian conditioning, where a neutral stimulus that does not elicit a particular response is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that does elicit a response (like fear).

Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that can trigger the desired conditioned response, which, in this case, would be a reduction in fear. In contrast, operant conditioning deals with the modification of voluntary behavior through the use of consequences such as reinforcement and punishment.