Which of the following concepts explains how many Americans were traumatized as a consequence of watching media coverage of the September 11th terrorist attacks?
A) vicarious, or secondhand conditioning
B) instrumental, or operant conditioning.
C) response chaining
D) higher order acquisition

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vicarious, or secondhand conditioning, is the concept that individuals can experience an emotional or behavioral response to an event simply by observing others experiencing it. In the case of the September 11th terrorist attacks, many Americans who watched the media coverage may have experienced trauma or fear as a result of vicarious conditioning. Option B, instrumental or operant conditioning, refers to the process by which behaviors are strengthened or weakened by their consequences, which is not applicable in this context. Option C, response chaining, describes a series of behaviors that are linked together to achieve a desired outcome, and option D, higher order acquisition, refers to the process of learning complex behaviors by building upon previously acquired knowledge or skills, neither of which are relevant to the trauma experienced by Americans after the attacks.

Which of the Following Concepts Explains How Many Americans Were