Identify conditioned stimuli and responses, distinguish stimulus pairing from operant consequences, and apply generalization or habituation to behaviour.
Ashley planned to drive from New York to California to attend college. However, shortly after departing, she became uncertain about which roads to take and called her parents for assistance with directions. Because she was distracted, she drove off the side of the road and grazed the front bumper of her car on the guardrail.
Fortunately, the car was not too badly damaged, so she continued on her journey. Although she ultimately made it to California, she had a lingering fear of guardrails for several months following her experience.
Part B Explain how each of the following might have led Ashley to have a negative experience on her trip from New York to California. Definitions alone will not score.
- Circadian rhythms
- Conditioned response
Conditioned response
Point 6: Conditioned Response
Student must specify reflexive/automatic/involuntary response (implying after acquisition) related to the
trip.
- Score: "Ashley is afraid of guardrails."
○ Note: Student may refer to an example of a conditioned response other than the fear of
guardrails, as long as it is related to the trip.
- Do NOT score examples of operant conditioning (with voluntary responses): "After her crash,
Ashley jerks her steering wheel away from every guardrail she sees."