In the classical conditioning model of posttraumatic stress disorder, the traumatic event serves as the ______.
A) unconditioned stimulus
B) unconditioned response
C) conditioned stimulus
D) conditioned response

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (US) is the initial stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any prior learning. In the case of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the traumatic event is the US that triggers fear, anxiety, and other intense emotional responses without any conditioning. It becomes associated with other stimuli (e.g., sights, smells, sounds) that were present during the trauma, eventually leading to the development of conditioned responses (e.g., flashbacks, avoidance). Therefore, the best choice for the role of the traumatic event in the classical conditioning model of PTSD is the unconditioned stimulus (option A).

In the Classical Conditioning Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the Traumatic