When Kenneth was a young boy he went to a dentist who treated him uncaringly and inflicted a good deal of pain. Even years later, he has an uncontrollable and intense fear of not only dentists but physicians, too. This best illustrates how phobias might be the result of ________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kenneth's fear of dentists and physicians is likely a result of generalization in classical conditioning, where the negative experience with one dentist has become associated with all dentists and doctors in his mind, leading to an intense fear response. This is a common mechanism underlying phobias. Observational conditioning, secondary gain, and the inflation effect are less relevant in this scenario.

When Kenneth Was a Young Boy He Went to a Dentist