Example of Higher-Order Conditioning: Chemotherapy

Example of Higher-Order Conditioning: A Cat and a Squeaky Cabinet

Stages of Higher-Order Conditioning Illustrated

A person develops a strong fear of dogs after being bitten. They notice that the dog that bit them always wore a red collar, and soon, the sight of any red collar causes them to feel anxious. Later, they frequently see their neighbor, who owns the dog, leaving the house just before they see the dog with its red collar. After a while, they begin to feel anxious simply upon seeing the neighbor, even when the dog and its collar are not visible. In this scenario, what is the most accurate explanation for why seeing the neighbor alone now causes anxiety?

A child loves the ice cream truck, which always plays a specific jingle. The child has learned to feel excited and happy upon hearing the jingle. Recently, the child has noticed that a particular neighbor always puts on a bright yellow hat just before the ice cream truck's jingle can be heard. Now, the child starts to feel excited and happy upon seeing the neighbor wearing the yellow hat, even before hearing the music. Which statement best analyzes how the child learned to feel excited by the sight of the yellow hat?