Morty is involved in a car wreck on Interstate 15.The next day,he becomes anxious and fretful when passing the spot of the accident.After several weeks of passing the spot every day on the way to work,Morty's negative reaction subsides.His anxiety has undergone:
A) discrimination
B) generalization
C) spontaneous recovery
D) extinction

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Morty's negative reaction to the spot of the accident has subsided over several weeks of passing it every day on his way to work. This suggests that the anxiety response has undergone extinction, which is the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus (the spot of the accident) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (the car wreck). Discrimination and generalization refer to the tendency to respond differently or similarly to stimuli that are similar or different from the original conditioned stimulus, respectively. Spontaneous recovery refers to the sudden reappearance of a conditioned response that had previously undergone extinction. None of these concepts apply to Morty's situation as described.

Morty Is Involved in a Car Wreck on Interstate 15