Which of the following is an example of aversive conditioning?

• A. A student studies harder after receiving praise for good grades.
• B. A child learns to avoid touching a hot stove after being burned.
• C. A dog salivates when it hears a bell because it expects food.
• D. A cat comes running when it hears the sound of a can opener.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of aversive conditioning. Aversive conditioning is a type of learning in which an unpleasant or harmful stimulus is associated with a behavior, leading to the reduction or avoidance of that behavior.
2. Step 2: Analyze each option to see if it involves learning through an unpleasant or harmful stimulus that causes avoidance or reduction of a behavior.
3. Step 3: The first option describes a student studying harder after praise, which is positive reinforcement, not aversive conditioning.
4. Step 4: The second option describes a child learning to avoid touching a hot stove after being burned, which involves associating a harmful stimulus (burn) with a behavior (touching the stove), leading to avoidance—this fits aversive conditioning.
5. Step 5: The third and fourth options describe classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus (bell or can opener) becomes associated with a positive outcome (food), which is not aversive conditioning.