Shera was five years old when she was bitten by a dog, which made her fearful of dogs until her early teens, when she got used to being around the dogs of a several friends. Years later, when a man with a dog moved in next door, Shera temporarily again became afraid of all dogs. This is an example of ____.
A) acquisition
B) stimulus discrimination
C) stimulus revisitation
D) spontaneous recovery

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shera's fear of dogs was initially acquired after being bitten by a dog, and her subsequent fear of all dogs is an example of stimulus generalization. However, her temporary fear of all dogs after a man with a dog moved in next door demonstrates spontaneous recovery, which is the reemergence of an extinguished response after a period of rest or without further conditioning. Neither stimulus discrimination nor stimulus revisitation accurately describe Shera's experience.

Shera Was Five Years Old When She Was Bitten by a Dog