Marisol is very bright with a tested IQ of 135. She likes school despite the fact that her first-grade teacher was very strict and punished students who failed tests by denying privileges such as play time. Marisol is a good student, but when she knows that a test will be given at school, she wakes up on those days with a headache and nausea. A behaviorist would argue that Marisol's reaction could be the result of:
A) classical conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) substitution anxiety
D) test anxiety

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Marisol's physical symptoms (headache and nausea) in anticipation of a test can be seen as a conditioned response to the conditioned stimulus (the test), which has been associated with the aversive unconditioned stimulus (punishment by her first-grade teacher). This is a classic example of classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus (test) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (punishment) to elicit a conditioned response (headache and nausea).

Marisol Is Very Bright with a Tested IQ of 135