Franz was on an elevator when there was an earthquake.The cable holding the elevator snapped and the elevator dropped three floors.Since that time, Franz has been terrified of elevators.The development of his elevator phobia can best be explained using principles of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Franz's development of a phobia after experiencing a traumatic event (earthquake) is best explained by classical conditioning. The elevator dropping three floors after the cable snapped served as an unconditioned stimulus (US) that produced fear (unconditioned response, UR) in Franz. The elevator itself became associated with the fear response, making the elevator a conditioned stimulus (CS) that elicits fear (now a conditioned response, CR) in Franz. Hence, the association between the elevator and the fear response is a result of classical conditioning.

Franz Was on an Elevator When There Was an Earthquake