Mitzi is extremely afraid of cats because she was badly scratched by one when she was younger. Abby is also afraid of cats, although she has never been scratched by one. However, Abby's mother is deathly afraid of cats. (a) Explain the way that Mitzi developed her phobia, using the US, UR, CS, and CR. (b) Explain the way Abby most likely developed her phobia. (c) Describe how all of these women,
including Abby's mother could overcome their phobias.
What will be an ideal response?
Answer will include the following:
(a) Mitzi's conditioned emotional response (CER) occurred through direct classical conditioning, in which the cat was a neutral stimulus until it was paired with the pain from the scratches (US). This fear of pain is an unconditioned response (UR). The cat became a conditioned stimulus (CS) after being paired with pain (US) and now can cause a conditioned response (CR) of being fearful of cats.
(b) Abby's conditioned emotional response most likely occurred through vicarious (secondhand) classical conditioning in which she learned to be afraid of cats by watching her mother's fear responses to cats.
(c) Mitzi, Abby, and Abby's mother can overcome their phobias through a therapy called systematic desensitization. Each person would be gradually exposed to the feared stimuli, while she remains calm and relaxed.
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