Question 44

She will cry because she is afraid of the kitten.

Based on conditioning theory, the child is likely to cry because the white kitten may elicit a fear response similar to the one triggered by the white bunny, which was associated with the loud hammer sound. This demonstrates the principles of classical conditioning, where a previously neutral stimulus (the kitten) becomes a conditioned stimulus due to its association with a distressing experience.

A) She will smile because there is no hammer sound

This option is incorrect because the absence of the hammer sound does not negate the child's fear response associated with the white bunny. The child has learned to associate the presence of a white animal with a frightening experience, leading to a likely fear reaction.

B) She will smile because there is no bunny

This choice is also incorrect. While the absence of the bunny might suggest a lack of immediate fear, the child’s previous experiences have conditioned her to associate the color white with fear, regardless of whether the bunny is present or not.

C) She will cry because she is afraid of the kitten

This option is correct. Due to classical conditioning, the child has developed a fear response to the color white, which is now generalized to include the white kitten. The emotional response of crying is consistent with her learned fear from the prior experiences with the bunny.

D) She will cry because she wants the bunny, not the kitten

This option is incorrect as it misinterprets the emotional response. The child’s reaction is not based on a desire for the bunny but rather on conditioned fear; she is not likely to cry out of wanting the bunny but rather from fear of the white kitten.

E) She will smile because she likes the kitten

This choice is also incorrect. The child's prior conditioning would likely overshadow any positive feelings toward the kitten, as her learned association with white animals is linked to fear, not affection.

Conclusion

The correct answer is C, as the child's reaction is rooted in classical conditioning principles where the white kitten elicits fear due to its association with a traumatic experience. Other options fail to recognize the conditioning effects and instead suggest responses that do not align with the child's learned emotional reactions.