Final answer:
Threats with noxious stimuli in the general strain theory can arise in situations of prolonged stress without escape, as shown in Seligman's learned helplessness experiments, or through conditioned associations like taste aversion or boundaries set by electric fences. Cultural expressions of strain also exemplify how communities might signal collective distress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of presenting a threat with noxious or negatively valued stimuli within the general strain theory include scenarios that lead to a fight or flight response in non-physical threat situations, such as public speaking or taking exams. Martin Seligman's experiment on learned helplessness demonstrates the deep psychological impact of presenting an unavoidable noxious stimulus. Additionally, classical conditioning, such as associating a flavor with illness or installing an invisible electric dog fence, shows how an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a negative experience. The cultural system's approach identifies examples like idioms of distress, which are expressions of strain within specific cultural contexts. Moreover, social events such as the reaction to the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, illustrate how structural stress and social control can present threats to a community, leading to a collective strain and subsequent behavior.