An animal trainer is conditioning an elephant to startle at the sound of a tromb
ID: 170500 • Letter: A
Question
An animal trainer is conditioning an elephant to startle at the sound of a trombone. Every time she plays the trombone, she then shows the elephant a mouse, which startles the elephant. Eventually the elephant startles at just the sound of the trombone. However, after playing the 10 more times, without a mouse appearing, the elephant exhibits no response. The trainer then gives the elephant an adequate rest period from the trombone. What is MOST likely to occur the elephant hears the again the following? A) The elephant will have a greatly delayed startle reaction. B) The elephant will startle upon hearing the sound. c) The elephant will startle only if it sees a mouse. D) The elephant will not react.Explanation / Answer
1. Conditioning is a type of behaviour involving a response to a stimulus that is different from the natural one. It is a type of learned behaviour.
2. Conditioning is a form of learning in which a given stimulus become increasingly effective in evoking a response.
3. When two stimuli are presented with appropriate time and intensity, one of them will eventually induce a response resembling with the other.
4. In the above conditioning trombone and mouse are called conditioned and unconditioned stimulus respectively.
5. In classical conditioning, when a conditioned stimulus is presented, that no longer predicts the coming of the unconditioned stimulus.
6. Conditioned response gradually stops. It reflects to extinguish conditioned fear. So the elephant will not react to trombone again the following week.
7. Option 'D' is the correct answer.