Rats that received unpredictable electric shocks in a laboratory experiment subsequently became apprehensive when returned to that same laboratory setting. This best illustrates that anxiety disorders may result from

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The rats in this experiment developed anxiety in response to the laboratory setting due to classical conditioning. The unpredictable electric shocks they received were the unconditioned stimulus, which naturally produced fear or anxiety. The laboratory setting became associated with the shocks, leading to the laboratory setting becoming the conditioned stimulus that triggered the anxiety response in the rats.

Rats That Received Unpredictable Electric Shocks in a Laboratory Experiment