Most humans have a tendency to hide first, and then run when they feel threatened; it is only with practice that individuals such as firefighters can learn to control such an urge. This might be considered an example of:
A) conditioned aversion
B) the equipotentiality principle
C) biological preparedness
D) the law of effect

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tendency to hide first and then run when feeling threatened is an example of biological preparedness, which refers to the idea that humans and animals are predisposed to respond to certain stimuli in certain ways due to evolutionary pressures. In this case, the response is likely a result of the survival advantage it provided to our ancestors when facing potential threats in the wild. Conditioned aversion and the law of effect are learning principles that may shape behavior, but they do not account for the initial response. The equipotentiality principle, which suggests that any stimulus can be associated with any response, is not applicable in this case since the response is specific to a threatening stimulus.

Most Humans Have a Tendency to Hide First, and Then