Alexis was a sick child who made frequent visits to the hospital. One day her mother and Alexis drove by the hospital and Alexis began to cry. She repeatedly said, "Mommy, I don't want to see the doctor." In this example, which of the following is the conditioned stimulus?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hospital is the conditioned stimulus because it is what prompts the crying and anxiety in Alexis, indicating that it has become associated with her negative experiences at the doctor's office. The other options (her mother, the shot, and the car) are not consistently associated with her negative experiences at the hospital and therefore are not conditioned stimuli in this context.

Alexis Was a Sick Child Who Made Frequent Visits to the Hospital