Which of the following would decrease the likelihood of acquisition?
A)The unconditioned stimulus is presented long after the conditioned stimulus.
B)The unconditioned stimulus is presented shortly after the conditioned stimulus.
C)The conditioned stimulus evokes an emotional response in the participant.
D)The unconditioned stimulus evokes a negative response in the participant.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Presenting the unconditioned stimulus long after the conditioned stimulus would decrease the likelihood of acquisition because the association between the two stimuli would weaken over time. This is known as temporal contiguity, and it is an important factor for successful conditioning.

Answer: D
 If the unconditioned stimulus evokes a negative response in the participant, it may be more difficult to establish a positive association with the conditioned stimulus. This is because negative emotions can interfere with learning and attention. Therefore, presenting a negative unconditioned stimulus would decrease the likelihood of acquisition.

Which of the Following Would Decrease the Likelihood of Acquisition