Although Hau was bitten only once by a dog many years ago, he nevertheless persistently stays away from dogs. According to the anxiety conservation hypothesis, Hau's fear of dogs does not extinguish because:
A) his escape response does not tell him that his fear of dogs is merely psychological.
B) others are to blame for his displays of anxiety.
C) his low self-esteem serves to conserve and heighten his anxiety.
D) his avoidance response to dogs occurs so quickly that his fear does not have time to extinguish.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The anxiety conservation hypothesis suggests that avoidance behaviors, such as Hau's quick response to stay away from dogs, prevent the individual from experiencing situations where they could learn that their fear is unfounded or exaggerated. This lack of exposure ensures that the fear response does not diminish over time, thereby conserving the anxiety.

Although Hau Was Bitten Only Once by a Dog Many