I think people are missing the point. This is a case of pure Pavlovian conditioning: the dog isn't salivating for the bell itself, but because it instantly associated the bell (the conditioned stimulus) with food (the unconditioned stimulus).
In this case, the black-haired guy associated the word "mom" (the conditioned stimulus) with the forbidden desire of being married and having a family with his friend (the unconditioned stimulus) after witnessing the family scene upon arriving home. This is what triggered the arousal and the guilt (the conditioned response).
That's why he constantly keeps thinking of his friend's marriage (as implied by his own assumption that the child is imitating his parents marital relationship during the "mom and dad" game). His complex responses (guilt, arousal) were awakened by the forbidden desire itself.
Therefore, the word became the one trigger that instantly accesses those responses of guilt and desire associated with this idea and well happened what happened.
Interesting concept, but I didn't like the poor development...
I think people are missing the point. This is a case of pure Pavlovian conditioning: the dog isn't salivating for the bell itself, but because it instantly associated the bell (the conditioned stimulus) with food (the unconditioned stimulus).
In this case, the black-haired guy associated the word "mom" (the conditioned stimulus) with the forbidden desire of being married and having a family with his friend (the unconditioned stimulus) after witnessing the family scene upon arriving home. This is what triggered the arousal and the guilt (the conditioned response).
That's why he constantly keeps thinking of his friend's marriage (as implied by his own assumption that the child is imitating his parents marital relationship during the "mom and dad" game). His complex responses (guilt, arousal) were awakened by the forbidden desire itself.
Therefore, the word became the one trigger that instantly accesses those responses of guilt and desire associated with this idea and well happened what happened.
Interesting concept, but I didn't like the poor development...