Melissa is fearful of men and refuses to go out on dates. her therapist suggests that she is fearful because she was sexually abused by her father when she was young; thus, she has generalized her fear to all men. the therapist's suggestion most clearly reflects a view that her fear is caused by

The correct answer is conditioning.

She was conditioned, or she learned in a way, to be afraid of men because her father sexually abused her when she was young. Her father 'taught' her not to trust other men by abusing her, which is why she is fearful of men as an adult and doesn't want to go out on dates with them because she thinks they will hurt her as well.