When someone approaches other people and says, "I have some bad news," they will likely expect to hear something that will upset them. By saying "I have some bad news," the other person has _____ the recipients to expect something bad.
A) preconditioned
B) framed
C) primed
D) desensitized
E) sensitized

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Saying "I have some bad news" primes or prepares the recipients to expect something negative, making them more receptive or sensitive to the news. This framing helps the listeners to process the information more readily than if they were taken by surprise. Preconditioning implies a more long-term, systematic conditioning, while desensitizing would have the opposite effect of making the recipients less receptive to the news.

When Someone Approaches Other People and Says, "I Have Some