In Each Trial of an Experiment, Participants See a Warning

question 31

Multiple Choice

In each trial of an experiment, participants see a warning signal and then, a half second later, see a pair of letters. The participants press one button if the letters are the same (e.g., W W ) and a different button if the letters are different (e.g., P X ) . In 80% of the trials, the warning signal is identical to the letters that will be shown on that trial. The following are the warning signals and the test stimuli presented on Trial 97 of the procedure: Group 1: warning signal = L; test pair = L L
Group 2: warning signal = U; test pair = L L
Group 3: warning signal = +; test pair = L L
In this setup we should expect the fastest responses from

• A) Group 3 and the slowest responses from Group 2.
• B) Group 1 and the slowest responses from Group 3.
• C) Group 1 and the slowest responses from Group 2.
• D) Group 1 and no difference between Groups 2 and 3.

---

Definitions:

Systematic Desensitization

is a behavioral therapy technique used to reduce phobias and anxieties by gradually exposing the patient to the anxiety source or its context without the intention to cause any harm.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychological treatment that addresses maladaptive thinking patterns to improve emotional regulation and develop personal coping strategies.

Free Association

A psychoanalytic technique in which a patient says whatever comes to mind without censorship, used to uncover subconscious thoughts and feelings.

Psychoanalytic

A therapeutic approach and theory of personality development that emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts, originally developed by Sigmund Freud.