In an Experiment, a Rat Was Placed on a Small

question 69

Multiple Choice

In an experiment, a rat was placed on a small platform. When this rat stepped down to the floor, it received a painful electric shock. After one shock, this rat would not step down to the floor when placed on the platform. A second rat also stepped down to the floor from the platform and received a painful shock but was immediately administered an electroconvulsive shock (ECS) to its brain. How did the ECS affect this second rat's behavior?

• A)The second rat, like the first, would never step down to the floor out of fear of the painful shock.
• B)The second rat actually sought out the painful shock because the ECS caused an endorphin "rush" that resulted in the rat becoming addicted to the pain.
• C)The second rat stepped down over and over again because the ECS wiped out the memories of the painful shock by interrupting consolidation.
• D)The second rat did not show fear of the shock from touching the floor but did show fear when the researcher attempted to administer the ECS again.

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Definitions:

Monopolistic Competition

A market structure characterized by the presence of several firms that sell similar, but slightly differentiated, products and services where each has some control over its prices.

Zero Economic Profits

A situation in perfectly competitive markets where firms earn just enough revenue to cover their total operating costs, leaving no supernormal profit.

Positive Economic Profits

The situation in which a firm's total revenues exceed its total costs, including both explicit and implicit costs, signaling that the firm is doing better than the next best alternative.

Profit

The financial gain realized when the amount earned from a business activity exceeds the expenses, costs, and taxes needed to sustain the activity.