Sarah Was Driving Down a Busy Highway When She Blew

question 151

Multiple Choice

Sarah was driving down a busy highway when she blew out a tire. She swerved and hit the side rail in addition to hitting her head on the steering wheel. Although she was not seriously hurt, she did need stitches. Unfortunately, Sarah forgot her cell phone at home that day. She stepped out of her car hoping someone would offer her some help. Which of the following is most likely to occur?

• A)No one will help Sarah because it is a busy highway.
• B)Many people will immediately stop because so many people witnessed the accident.
• C)People generally mind their own business, so no one will really even notice that she needs any help.
• D)If help is offered, it will likely be a while because people generally assume someone has already called for help.

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Definitions:

Mowrer's Two-Factor Theory

A theory proposing that avoidance learning involves both classical conditioning of fear and operant conditioning of the avoidance response.

Avoidance Conditioning

A learning process in operant conditioning wherein an individual learns a behavior to avoid an undesired stimulus or outcome.

Aversive Event

An unfavorable or unpleasant event or stimulus that an organism seeks to avoid or escape.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.