What outcome is most likely for a participant who became ill after consuming candy bars?

Prepare for the UWorld Behavioral Science Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and in-depth explanations. Master the exam and boost your confidence!

The most likely outcome for a participant who became ill after consuming candy bars is the development of a long-lasting aversion to the specific candy bars consumed. This concept is rooted in classical conditioning, particularly the principles established by Ivan Pavlov. When an individual experiences a negative reaction, such as illness or nausea, shortly after consuming a particular food, they often form a strong association between the food and the unpleasant feeling.

This learned aversion tends to persist over time, leading the individual to avoid the specific food item in the future, as the memory of the negative experience can trigger a sense of disgust or anxiety. In this situation, it is the specific candy bars that the participant consumed that are likely to be the focus of the aversion, as the brain links the taste or smell of those candy bars with the unpleasant experience of being ill.

While the other options may present possible reactions, they are less directly tied to the psychological principles of conditioned responses. For instance, avoiding future research studies pertains to a broader fear of participation rather than a specific aversion based on the negative experience with the candy bars. Similarly, the avoidance of computer games or candy bars in general does not encapsulate the hallmark of a conditioned aversion that specifically references the item responsible for the

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