Zoe has had her pet terrier, Roscoe, for several years. Although Zoe has twice been bitten by Roscoe recently, she is completely unafraid of him. This is most likely an example of the _____ effect.
A) overshadowing
B) blocking
C) latent inhibition
D) latent habituation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Latent inhibition refers to the phenomenon where a familiar stimulus takes longer to acquire meaning (as a signal or conditioned stimulus) than a new stimulus. Zoe's lack of fear towards Roscoe, despite being bitten, could be due to her long-standing familiarity and bond with Roscoe, making her less reactive or fearful towards his aggressive actions compared to if a new or unfamiliar dog had bitten her.

Zoe Has Had Her Pet Terrier, Roscoe, for Several Years