An industrial technician, Sam, works in a processing plant. Every time a high-pressure valve releases a scalding jet of steam, a distinctive metallic buzzer sounds. The hot steam naturally causes Sam to experience a reflexive surge of fear and pain. After several weeks on the job, Sam finds that hearing this metallic buzzer, even when away from the machinery, triggers an immediate, intense feeling of fear and muscle tension.
Using your knowledge of classical conditioning, explain how Sam developed this fear of the metallic buzzer.
Practise Edexcel A Level Psychology Content with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 1,059 questions covering Diagnosis of mental disorders (4 Ds), Classification systems (DSM and ICD), Schizophrenia and one other disorder, Treatments for the two disorders, Individual differences, and Developmental psychology, matched to the Edexcel A Level Psychology (9PS0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
