You have impulsively volunteered for an experiment on the effects of electric shock on performance. You now have a choice among three schedules for receiving exactly twenty shocks. Which of these schedules, if any, would probably prove to be the most stressful?

A) shocks delivered exactly once a minute for 20 minutes
B) 20 shocks delivered on an irregular basis, but each one preceded by a warning signal
C) 20 shocks delivered on an irregular basis, without any warning signal
D) It makes no difference; all these schedules would be equally stressful.

Question

Salvatore Di Maggio · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  This schedule would be the most stressful because the shocks are delivered on an irregular basis without any warning signal, meaning there is no way for the participant to prepare or anticipate when the next shock will come. This unpredictability can increase anxiety and stress levels. schedule A may also be stressful as shocks every minute without any anticipation can make the participant more anxious. In Schedule B, warning signals mitigate stress levels as participants have time to prepare for the shock. Hence, C is the most stressful among the options given.

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