Dr. Cross conducts a study in which she repeatedly exposes Lucy to a neutral object (a small painting). The study is neither enjoyable nor painful for Lucy. Assuming that Lucy had a neutral attitude toward the painting at the beginning of the study, how should we expect her to feel about the painting by the end of the study?
A)She will probably hate it.
B)She will probably dislike it a little.
C)She will probably like it a little.
D)There will probably be no change in her attitude at all.

Question

Dr. Cross conducts a study in which she repeatedly exposes Lucy to a neutral object (a small painting). The study is neither enjoyable nor painful for Lucy. Assuming that Lucy had a neutral attitude toward the painting at the beginning of the study, how should we expect her to feel about the painting by the end of the study? ​
A)She will probably hate it.
B)She will probably dislike it a little. ​
C)She will probably like it a little. ​
D)There will probably be no change in her attitude at all. ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is explained by the mere exposure effect, which suggests that people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. Since Lucy was repeatedly exposed to the painting, it's likely she will develop a slight liking for it.

Dr Cross Conducts a Study in Which She Repeatedly Exposes