You watch a horror movie, and are scared. Running through the background music is a sustained, high-pitched note on a violin. The next day, you are watching a drama that also has background music featuring violin. Suddenly, you feel uneasy. Which process explains this effect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generalization is the process of applying a learned response to stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus. In this case, the sustained, high-pitched note on a violin became associated with fear in the context of the horror movie, and therefore the same note played in a different context (the drama) elicited a similar response of unease.

You Watch a Horror Movie, and Are Scared