Deck 9: Escape Avoidance and Punishment

Question 1

According to the two-process theory of avoidance, the first step in the development of an avoidance response is the creation of a(n):

A) intermittently reinforced escape response.
B) classically conditioned escape response.
C) intermittently reinforced fear response.
D) classically conditioned fear response.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In defense of the two-process theory of avoidance, it has been argued that:

A) avoidance responses almost never extinguish.
B) animals that continue to avoid a feared situation also continue to experience at least some fear of the CS.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A rat has learned that if it presses a lever every 30 seconds, it can avoid receiving a shock. After many sessions, you notice the rat leisurely wandering about the chamber during the time period preceding each lever press. On the surface, this behavior seems to _____ Mowrer's two-process theory of avoidance.

A) provide strong support for
B) provide at least moderate support for
C) be irrelevant to
D) contradict

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following would be the typical sequence of stimuli in a shuttle avoidance procedure?

A) The presentation of a shock is followed by the sound of a tone.
B) The sound of a tone is followed by the offset of a shock.
C) The sound of a tone is followed by the presentation of a shock.
D) The offset of a shock is followed by the sound of a tone.

Question 5

Robert has a bug phobia. According to the anxiety conservation hypothesis, his fear of bugs does not extinguish because any exposure to bugs:

A) is negatively reinforced.
B) is negatively punished.
C) is too brief for extinction to take place.
D) results in incubation of the fear response.

Question 6

Although Hau was bitten only once by a dog many years ago, he nevertheless persistently stays away from dogs. According to the anxiety conservation hypothesis, Hau's fear of dogs does not extinguish because:

A) his escape response does not tell him that his fear of dogs is merely psychological.
B) others are to blame for his displays of anxiety.
C) his low self-esteem serves to conserve and heighten his anxiety.
D) his avoidance response to dogs occurs so quickly that his fear does not have time to extinguish.

Question 7

The second process in Mowrer's two-process theory of avoidance involves:

A) classical conditioning of a fear response.
B) classical conditioning of an approach response.
C) negative punishment resulting from the reduction of fear.
D) negative reinforcement resulting from the reduction of fear.

Question 8

Arthur owns a restaurant in a neighborhood controlled by organized crime. Local merchants often pay "protection" money to gang members in order to avoid risking their businesses. When a gang representative comes to Arthur's restaurant at the beginning of every month, Arthur hands over an envelope full of cash and has a pleasant conversation with the gang member. By Arthur's actions, it would appear as if he has no fear and yet continues to pay money to the gang. What would Levis (1989) suggest about Arthur's apparent nonchalance?

A) If Arthur truly had no fear, he would not continue to pay money to the gang members.
B) Arthur is less fearful as a result of experience.
C) Arthur truly has no fear of the actions of the gang.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 9

Allen, who was bullied as a child, feels anxious whenever he sees a gang of teenagers walking toward him. As a result, he usually crosses the street so that he does not have to walk past them. This example best illustrates the _____.

A) Premack principle
B) two-process theory of avoidance
C) latent inhibition effect
D) species-specific defense reaction theory

Question 10

The first process in Mowrer's two-process theory of avoidance involves:

A) classical conditioning of a fear response to a CS.
B) classical conditioning of an approach response to a CS.
C) negative punishment resulting from the reduction of fear.
D) negative reinforcement resulting from the reduction of fear.

Question 11

Which type of consequence serves to motivate escape behavior and avoidance behavior?

A) Positive reinforcement
B) Positive punishment
C) Negative reinforcement
D) Negative punishment

Question 12

One difficulty with the two-process theory of avoidance is that:

A) avoidance responses are difficult to extinguish.
B) avoidance responses extinguish very quickly.
C) escape responses are difficult to extinguish.
D) escape responses extinguish very quickly.

Question 13

Levis's answer to the problem that the "nonchalant" animal poses for the two-process theory of avoidance is that:

A) the animal nevertheless feels a residual amount of fear.
B) the animal's fear will gradually return after further conditioning trials.
C) fear does not play a role in the maintenance of an avoidance response.
D) the animal actually feels extreme fear even if it looks relaxed.

Question 14

In a shuttle avoidance procedure involving the stimuli of a tone and a shock, the _____ serves as the SD for the _____ response.

A) shock; avoidance
B) shock; escape
C) tone; escape
D) escape response; avoidance

Question 15

In a shuttle avoidance procedure involving the stimuli of a tone and a shock, the _____ serves as the S^D for the _____ response.

A) shock; avoidance
B) tone; escape
C) tone; avoidance
D) avoidance response; escape

Question 16

The second process in Mowrer's two-process theory of avoidance involves _____ in the form of _____.

A) negative punishment; fear induction
B) negative reinforcement; fear reduction
C) negative reinforcement; shock removal
D) negative punishment; shock presentation

Question 17

According to Levis (1989), seemingly nonchalant animals who continue to avoid the aversive stimulus are:

A) truly relaxed.
B) merely suppressing their fear.
C) still experiencing a residual amount of fear.
D) exhibiting an avoidance response that has now become a conditioned reflex.

Question 18

In general, when we are confronted with an aversive situation, the development of avoidance behavior _____ the development of escape behavior.

A) precedes
B) follows
C) occurs more quickly than
D) is more certain than

Question 19

In a shuttle avoidance procedure, an animal first learns to _____ the aversive stimulus and then learns to _____ it.

A) escape; avoid
B) avoid; escape
C) escape; attack
D) notice; avoid

Question 20

According to the anxiety conservation hypothesis, avoidance responses persist because:

A) avoidance occurs too quickly for the shock to be felt.
B) escape occurs too quickly for the fear to extinguish.
C) avoidance occurs too quickly for the fear to extinguish.
D) escape occurs too quickly for the shock to be felt.

Question 21

For Salima, who has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, checking the apartment door to make sure it is locked results in a(n) _____ in feelings of _____.

A) decrease; pleasure
B) increase; competence
C) increase; anxiety
D) decrease; anxiety

Question 22

According to Mineka, experimental avoidance in animals differs from phobic avoidance in humans in that:

A) humans avoid the US but not the CS.
B) only one conditioning trial is typically required to establish a phobia.
C) phobic avoidance is never as consistent as experimental avoidance.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 23

The two-process theory of avoidance is to _____ as the one-process theory is to _____.

A) negative reinforcement; negative punishment
B) negative punishment; negative reinforcement
C) avoidance; escape
D) less fear; less shock

Question 24

According to the one-process theory of avoidance, the act of avoidance is negatively reinforced by:

A) a reduction in fear.
B) an increase in feelings of relief.
C) the lower rate of aversive stimulation with which it is associated.
D) negative punishment followed by the escape response.

Question 25

Donna has a fear of wasps and refuses to go to the park in the summer when wasps are most numerous. Which critical factor in the maintenance of phobic behavior does this scenario illustrate?

A) Classical conditioning
B) Reducing the likelihood of encountering the CS
C) Increasing the effort of avoiding the feared event
D) Intermittent negative reinforcement

Question 26

Prior to Stampfl's experiment, which critical factor in phobic behavior patterns was absent in most experimental avoidance procedures ?

A) The opportunity to make an early avoidance response
B) The opportunity to make a late avoidance response
C) Classical conditioning of a fear response
D) Negative reinforcement of an avoidance response

Question 27

Stampfl's procedure focuses on the fact that people with phobias typically make the _____ early in the chain of events leading up to the feared stimulus.

A) avoidance response
B) escape response
C) appetitive response
D) species-specific defense reaction

Question 28

Constantly worrying about whether you locked the door as you left your apartment this morning is an example of a(n):

A) phobia.
B) compulsion.
C) obsession.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 29

According to research conducted by Stampfl, a critical factor that helps to maintain people's wasp phobias is that:

A) they run away whenever a wasp draws close to them.
B) they are intermittently exposed to a wasp.
C) they are intermittently stung by a wasp.
D) they plan events such that they almost never encounter a wasp.

Question 30

According to Stampfl, an important factor that underlies the development of _____ avoidance responses in phobias is _____.

A) early; effort reduction
B) late; effort reduction
C) early; effort induction
D) late; effort induction

Question 31

One difference between obsessive-compulsive disorder and a phobia is that a phobia typically involves a(n) _____ avoidance response, while obsessive-compulsive disorder involves a(n) _____ avoidance response.

A) active; passive
B) passive; active
C) overt; covert
D) overt

Question 32

Obsessions are to _____ as compulsions are to _____.

A) thoughts; actions
B) actions; dreams
C) dreams; thoughts
D) actions; thoughts

Question 33

In the context of obsessions and compulsions, hand-washing is to thoughts about germs as _____ is to _____.

A) a decrease in anxiety; an increase in anxiety
B) an increase in anxiety; a decrease in anxiety
C) covert conditioning;  flooding
D) flooding; desensitization

Question 34

In general, obsessions and compulsions have _____ effects on anxiety.

A) weak
B) similar
C) opposite
D) unpredictable

Question 35

Experimental avoidance typically requires at least a few pairings of the _____ and the US before avoidance has been reliably established.

A) NS
B) CS
C) CR
D) UR

Question 36

In terms of the anxiety conservation hypothesis, exposure to the aversive stimulus is so minimal that the avoidance response is extremely resistant to _____ .

A) repression
B) the escape response
C) extinction
D) the species-specific defense reaction

Question 37

For Janine, who has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, thoughts about possible germs on her body produce a(n):

A) increase in anxiety.
B) reflexive tendency to avoid showers.
C) decrease in anxiety.
D) feeling of intense pleasure.

Question 38

The attractive aspect of the _____ is that it does away with any reference to an internal state of fear, the existence of which has to be inferred.

A) two-process theory of avoidance
B) latent inhibition effect
C) anxiety conservation hypothesis
D) one-process theory of avoidance

Question 39

According to Mineka, phobias in humans and experimental avoidance in rats differ in that:

A) rats avoid the CS.
B) experimental avoidance requires a single, brief conditioning trail to produce avoidance that is strong.
C) human phobias typically require several conditioning trials to produce avoidance that is persistent.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 40

According to Stampfl, a critical factor in the maintenance of phobic behavior is:

A) last minute avoidance of the aversive stimulus.
B) cognitive avoidance of the appetitive stimulus.
C) early avoidance of the aversive stimulus.
D) negative contrast effects between safety and danger.

Question 41

Having one's car towed away for parking in a no parking zone is most similar to the concept of _____.

A) time-out
B) negative reinforcement
C) response cost
D) None of these are correct.

Question 42

_____ is the removal of a specific reinforcer following the occurrence of a problem behavior.

A) Positive reinforcement
B) Positive punishment
C) Time-out
D) Response cost

Question 43

The development of OCD may result from the process of:

A) US revaluation.
B) occasion setting.
C) sensory preconditioning.
D) selective sensitization.

Question 44

In the context of OCD, which of the following is incongruent with the two-process theory of avoidance?

A) Patients display late rather than early avoidance.
B) Patients display early rather than later avoidance.
C) OCD is usually initiated by a clear instance of classical conditioning.
D) Patients usually cannot recall a particular conditioning event that led to the obsession.

Question 45

Exposure and response prevention therapy for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder involves prolonged exposure to the anxiety-arousing event while _____ in the _____ behavior pattern that reduces the anxiety.

A) not engaging; compulsive
B) engaging; obsessive
C) not engaging; obsessive
D) engaging; compulsive

Question 46

Obsessive-compulsive disorders often arise:

A) following a traumatic encounter with the relevant event.
B) as a direct result of classical conditioning.
C) during times of stress.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 47

In the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder, compulsions are characterized by _____.

A) persistent thoughts
B) images
C) impulses
D) stereotyped actions

Question 48

Obsessions are characterized by _____.

A) stereotyped actions
B) persistent thoughts
C) repetitive actions
D) suicidal tendencies

Question 49

Ted lost his job after arguing with his boss. As a result, in his subsequent jobs, he never again argued with the boss. This is an example of:

A) negative reinforcement.
B) extinction.
C) negative punishment.
D) positive punishment.

Question 50

Ideally, a time-out procedure should be:

A) followed by the reinforcement of appropriate behavior.
B) fairly long.
C) combined with a response cost procedure.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 51

Solitary confinement in prison, to the extent that it is effective, is an extreme example of _____.

A) response cost
B) time-out
C) positive  reinforcement
D) negative reinforcement

Question 52

On a cognitive level, people with OCD generally fail to realize that:

A) intrusive thoughts are uncommon and abnormal.
B) some thoughts are essentially respondents that are automatically elicited by certain stimuli.
C) obsessive thoughts are operants that require forceful elicitation by stimuli.
D) they constantly avoid responsibility for their behavior.

Question 53

Which of the following is most likely to precede  a continuous tendency to continually wash one's hands?

A) Repressed memories of abuse
B) A stressful divorce
C) A puppy accidentally defecating on one's hands
D) A sudden fright

Question 54

Which of the following is likely to be a task involved in an exposure and response prevention treatment for a cleaning compulsion?

A) Going for days without a shower
B) Staying away from garbage cans
C) Constant cleaning to the point where it becomes aversive
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 55

Jorge was given an extra homework assignment after making faces at a teacher one day. He never again made faces at the teacher. This scenario is an example of

A) avoidance conditioning.
B) extinction.
C) negative punishment.
D) positive punishment.

Question 56

Janice has OCD. She is bothered by thoughts that she has left her apartment door unlocked. This thought pattern is best classified as :

A) a negatively reinforced operant.
B) a positively reinforced operant.
C) a respondent.
D) adjunctive behavior.

Question 57

Exposure and response prevention therapy for OCD makes use of:

A) flooding therapy.
B) systematic desensitization.
C) both flooding therapy and systematic desensitization.
D) neither flooding therapy nor systematic desensitization.

Question 58

You live on a desert island and there is a hurricane coming. After refusing to ride on the hurricane evacuation boat, being  stranded on a desert island is most similar to:

A) negative punishment.
B) response cost.
C) time-out.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 59

Which of the following treatment procedures is effective in the treatment of OCD?

A) Exposure and response prevention
B) Latent inhibition
C) A DRO or DRI procedure
D) A DRL procedure

Question 60

OCD was once considered a particularly difficult disorder to treat. This changed when clinicians began analyzing OCD in terms of _____.

A) phobic conditioning
B) experimental neurosis
C) avoidance conditioning
D) anxiety conservation

Question 61

Which of the following is a problem associated with using punishment?

A) It does not directly strengthen more appropriate behavior.
B) Strong emotional reactions may interfere with learning.
C) The use of punishment is often strongly reinforced.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 62

When Larry went swimming in the mountain lake, he almost froze to death and never again tried it. This is an example of _____ punishment.

A) secondary
B) generalized secondary
C) intrinsic
D) extrinsic

Question 63

Both negative punishment and _____ involve the removal of reinforcers and result in a decrease in the strength of a behavior.

A) repression
B) extinction
C) conditioned suppression
D) experimental neurosis

Question 64

Joanne's favorite hat was taken away from her by her parents because she was being disobedient. As a result, she was never again disobedient to her parents. This scenario is an example of

A) positive punishment.
B) time-out.
C) response cost.
D) negative reinforcement.

Question 65

Eating rotten food is an _____ event; getting a traffic fine for speeding is an _____ event.

A) extrinsically punishing; intrinsically punishing
B) intrinsically punishing; extrinsically punishing
C) extrinsically punishing; extrinsically punishing
D) intrinsically punishing; intrinsically punishing

Question 66

Being punched in the face is a(n) _____, while getting a fine for speeding is a(n) _____.

A) secondary punisher; intrinsic punisher
B) primary punisher; secondary punisher
C) extrinsic punisher; intrinsic punisher
D) primary punisher; intrinsic punisher

Question 67

Jessica whines for extra helpings when she is given dessert at the dinner table. In order to put an end to the whining, her mom decides to stop giving her extra dessert when she whines for it. Her mom is attempting to use a(n) _____ procedure.

A) positive punishment
B) time-out
C) blocking
D) extinction

Question 68

Roberto was severely chastised by Ms. Veneka for asking inappropriate questions in class. Problems arising from this include the possibility that Roberto may:

A) avoid Ms. Veneka whenever possible.
B) refuse to say anything in future classes.
C) Both of these are correct.
D) Neither of these are correct.

Question 69

Andrea works in a home for adults with behavioral and mental disorders. There is a "marble system" that is used to reinforce and punish the behavior of the residents. Green marbles are given for good behavior; red marbles are given for problem behavior and are associated with various consequences. The residents do not like to get red marbles. In this scenario, the red marbles are examples of _____.

A) secondary punishers
B) extrinsic punishers
C) generalized punishers
D) All of these are correct.

Question 70

Primary punishers are also called _____, and secondary punishers are also called _____.

A) unconditioned punishers; conditioned punishers
B) generalized punishers; conditioned punishers
C) unconditioned punishers; generalized punishers
D) conditioned punishers; unconditioned punishers

Question 71

Which of the following is a problem associated with the use of punishment?

A) The recipient may avoid the person who delivers the punishment.
B) The recipient may become aggressive.
C) The recipient may later use punishment to control others.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 72

When the frequency of a behavior declines because performing the behavior no longer leads to something, the process involved is called

A) negative punishment.
B) positive punishment.
C) extinction.
D) negative reinforcement.

Question 73

No longer getting a cookie is to _____ as removal of a cookie is to _____.

A) extinction; negative punishment
B) extinction; positive punishment
C) positive punishment; negative punishment
D) negative punishment; positive punishment

Question 74

Rob is fined for driving over the speed limit. This is an example of _____.

A) time-out
B) extinction
C) response cost
D) repression

Question 75

Tom yells at his parrot whenever it squawks because the squawking bothers the neighbors in the next apartment. Why is this procedure less than ideal?

A) The parrot could become very passive.
B) The parrot might still squawk when Tom is not home.
C) The parrot might become fearful of Tom.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 76

For a person who truly regards money as the root of all evil, accepting a bribe would likely function as a(n) _____ punisher.

A) primary
B) intrinsic
C) generalized
D) generalized primary

Question 77

Juan usually gets candy at the store. Juan screams for more candy in the check-out lane of the grocery store.  In order to put an end to the screaming, his mom decides to not buy him candy when he is screaming.  His mom is attempting to use a(n) _____ procedure.

A) positive punishment
B) negative punishment
C) negative reinforcement
D) extinction

Question 78

No longer getting food following a certain behavior is to _____ as withdrawal of food following a certain behavior is to _____.

A) extinction; positive punishment
B) extinction; negative punishment
C) negative punishment; positive punishment
D) positive punishment; negative punishment

Question 79

Which procedure is especially likely to result in strong emotional responses such as crying or other displays of distress?

A) Positive punishment
B) Negative punishment
C) Learned helplessness
D) Experimental neurosis

Question 80

Making a child sit in a corner for being too noisy is an attempted _____ procedure, while turning off the television for being too noisy is an attempted _____ procedure.

A) response cost; time-out
B) time-out; response cost
C) negative punishment; positive punishment
D) positive punishment; negative punishment