Deck 10: The Challenge of Behaviorism: Dollard and Miller, Skinner, and Staats

Question 1

If a neurotic person compulsively washes his or her hands every time he or she thinks about disease, then thinking about disease is a(n)

A) response.
B) cue.
C) drive.
D) fixation.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Besides exploring psychoanalysis and learning theory, Miller included conducted research in

A) physiological mechanisms of motivation
B) sociology
C) chemistry
D) medicine

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which statement best describes matched dependent behavior?

A) The person behaves in the same way as the model, and is controlled by the same cues as the model.
B) The person behaves in the same way as the model, and is reinforced by the similarity to the model's behavior.
C) The person behaves in the same way as the model, but is controlled by different cues, which are provided by the model.
D) The person behaves in the same way as the model, but is controlled by different cues, which are in the situation seen by both.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The term learning dilemma refers to a situation in which

A) material is presented too quickly to be learned.
B) two responses are rewarded.
C) the responses made are not rewarded.
D) there are inadequate discriminative stimuli.

Question 5

Tiger Woods' ability to hit a golf ball well is an example of which component of the Basic Behavioral Repertoire?

A) Language-Cognitive
B) Sensory-Motor
C) Emotional-Motivational
D) Motor-Conditional

Question 6

Which of the following is a drive?

A) hunger
B) anxiety
C) ambition
D) all of the above

Question 7

Sarah has learned to say, "May I watch television?" when she hears her older sister ask that same question. Her older sister asks when the clock says that it is 7 PM, but Sarah can't tell time yet. This
Is an example of __________.

A) same behavior
B) copying
C) matched dependent behavior
D) generalization

Question 8

Tiger Woods' mother used behaviorist principles to get young Tiger to do his homework. She would allow him to play golf only after his homework was done. In this example, what type of
Reinforcer/punishment is Tiger's mother using?

A) primary reinforcer
B) secondary reinforcer
C) negative punishment
D) extinction

Question 9

Miller and Dollard suggested that "in order to learn, one must __________, notice something, do something, and get something."

A) avoid something
B) see something
C) have something
D) want something

Question 10

Which of the following best defines a cue in the sense that Dollard and Miller used the term?

A) a vague idea about what is desired
B) an ordered list of possible responses
C) distinctive stimuli that a person notices at the time of behavior
D) the reward for a behavior

Question 11

Besides his collaborative work with Neal Miller, John Dollard studied

A) animal behavior.
B) sex differences in empathy.
C) sociological questions (race relations and social class).
D) the psychology of color vision.

Question 12

Miller and Dollard suggested that "in order to learn, one must want something, notice something, __________ something, and get something."

A) ask for
B) give
C) do
D) decide

Question 13

Besides exploring psychoanalysis and learning theory, Miller included conducted research in

A) physiological mechanisms of motivation
B) sociology
C) chemistry
D) medicine

Question 14

Learning consists of strengthening the connection between the __________ and the response.

A) learner
B) drive
C) cue
D) reward

Question 15

When called on in class, Sam is more likely to stutter than to say the right answer clearly. For him, stuttering is __________, in terms of Dollard and Miller's theory.

A) a cue
B) the most likely (dominate) response
C) least likely response
D) a punishment

Question 16

Freud's concept of "libido" corresponds to Dollard and Miller's concept of

A) anxiety.
B) behavior gradients.
C) cue.
D) drive.

Question 17

In the first stage of development, Dollard and Miller described conflicts over

A) talking back.
B) feeding.
C) toilet training.
D) masturbation.

Question 18

Jerry is trying to be just like his father, despite different cues. This is an example of

A) an anticipatory response.
B) copying.
C) matched dependent behavior.
D) same behavior.

Question 19

Undesirable responses can be eliminated by

A) extinction or punishment.
B) punishment or reward.
C) extinction or spontaneous recovery.
D) generalization or discrimination.

Question 20

Dollard and Miller adopted the assumption of Hullian learning theory that reward occurs when

A) drives are reduced.
B) praise is given.
C) goals are achieved.
D) punishment ends.

Question 21

An adolescent who has come home later than he should is given the choice between being grounded for a week or having to do extra chores. This choice presents him with a(n) __________ conflict.

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) double approach-avoidance

Question 22

Charlie Brown wants to talk to the little red-headed girl, but he is afraid she will reject him. What type of conflict is this?

A) approach-approach conflict
B) avoidance-avoidance conflict
C) approach-avoidance conflict
D) double approach-avoidance conflict

Question 23

Dollard and Miller explained aggression with their __________ hypothesis.

A) aggression formation
B) anger-anxiety
C) frustration-aggression
D) libido

Question 24

Barbara remarks, "The closer we get to the restaurant, the hungrier I get!" This observation corresponds to which concept?

A) gradient of approach
B) gradient of avoidance
C) approach-avoidance conflict
D) spontaneous recovery

Question 25

There are two ways Jane can get to school. If she walks, unfriendly dogs will bark at her. If she rides the bus, the school bully will pull her braids. What kind of conflict is she experiencing?

A) approach-approach conflict
B) avoidance-avoidance conflict
C) approach-avoidance conflict
D) double approach-avoidance conflict

Question 26

Dollard and Miller suggested that toilet training is easier if

A) the child is an only child.
B) it is begun as early as possible.
C) it is delayed until language develops to provide mediating cues.
D) the child goes to nursery school.

Question 27

By definition, "frustration" occurs when

A) aggression is blocked.
B) drive reduction is blocked.
C) a person is angry.
D) a person is unhappy.

Question 28

In the third stage of child development, according to Dollard and Miller, a child is often punished for

A) messiness.
B) poor eating habits.
C) masturbation.
D) wetting the bed.

Question 29

Dollard and Miller recommend feeding an infant

A) only breast milk.
B) whenever the infant is hungry.
C) on a fixed schedule (for example, every 4 hours).
D) with a bottle.

Question 30

Conflict occurs when a situation

A) arouses anger.
B) involves other people.
C) is similar to situations experienced in childhood.
D) provides cues for two or more incompatible responses.

Question 31

Conflict occurs when cues are present for

A) anxiety.
B) compatible responses.
C) incompatible responses.
D) aggression.

Question 32

Sometimes Leslie is terrified of spiders; sometimes she is not. According to Dollard and Miller, one likely reason for this variation in the level of fear is

A) whether Leslie has actually ever been bitten by a spider.
B) how far away the spider is.
C) whether Leslie is alone or with other people.
D) how long it has been since Leslie has eaten.

Question 33

In the second stage of development, Dollard and Miller described conflicts over

A) feeding.
B) picking up toys.
C) toilet training.
D) sharing.

Question 34

Dollard and Miller cautioned that if toilet training is rushed, __________ will develop.

A) anxiety and guilt
B) an early Oedipus complex
C) apathy
D) phobias

Question 35

Ideally, by learning to deal appropriately with anger-anxiety conflicts in childhood, the person will be able to be

A) assertive.
B) powerful.
C) considerate.
D) peaceful.

Question 36

In contrast to therapy, attempts to reduce conflict with alcohol and drugs

A) never work.
B) provide a temporary and generalized reduction of avoidance.
C) are more likely to be effective.
D) are slower.

Question 37

Which of the following situations generally produces the least conflict?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) double approach-avoidance

Question 38

Given the opportunity, a person confronting an avoidance-avoidance conflict will

A) become aggressive.
B) directly confront the situation.
C) leave the field (avoid both choices).
D) try to control the situation through self-talk.

Question 39

Johnny's parents ask, "Do you want to go to camp this summer, or go on vacation with the rest of the family?" Johnny does neither; he runs away from home. Apparently, the choice given him presented
A(n) __________ conflict.

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) double approach-avoidance

Question 40

In addition to Freud's first three psychosexual stages, Dollard and Miller described a fourth stage, concerned with conflict over

A) anger.
B) sex roles.
C) siblings.
D) playmates.

Question 41

How does the theory of operant conditioning differ from evolution?

A) Operant conditioning leads to adaptive behavior; evolution does not.
B) Evolution leads to adaptive behavior; operant conditioning does not.
C) Evolution takes a long time; operant conditioning does not.
D) Operant conditioning influences human behavior, while evolution influences animal behavior.

Question 42

Learning theory explains neurotic symptoms as ways to

A) avoid anxiety.
B) avoid reality.
C) attain satisfaction of infantile needs.
D) get attention.

Question 43

Dollard and Miller postulated that interfering with an organism's behavior which would reduce a drive (for example, preventing a hungry animal from eating) would produce

A) discrimination learning.
B) identification.
C) aggression.
D) apathy.

Question 44

Learning is measured by increases or decreases over a period of time in an organism's

A) physiological responses.
B) the rate of responding.
C) adherence to social attitudes.
D) love interests.

Question 45

What is the rebound effect?

A) People suppressing thoughts often think of the unwanted thoughts later with greater frequency.
B) People completely forget what they were trying to suppress and cannot think of it later when they want to recall the information.
C) People are unable to suppress information when given conflicting instructions by researchers.
D) People first suppress a bit of information and it becomes repressed information.

Question 46

What is the most important determinant of behavior according to Skinner?

A) early experience
B) sex drives
C) models of behavior
D) environmental outcomes contingent on an organism's behavior

Question 47

Since Dollard and Miller, other theorists have modified the explanation of aggression by

A) considering the influence of learning non-aggressive responses to frustration.
B) considering situational cues.
C) considering individual differences in personality
D) all of the above

Question 48

Skinner's theory focuses on

A) biological predispositions.
B) reinforcement and punishment.
C) emotions.
D) thoughts.

Question 49

According to Skinner, the idea that personality traits influence behavior is

A) not scientific.
B) probably true.
C) a fundamental assumption of his theory.
D) demonstrated by a functional analysis.

Question 50

Skinner wrote a novel entitled

A) "For the love of elderberries"
B) "Walden Two"
C) "The Behaviorist Handbook"
D) "Operant Conditioning and Your Child"

Question 51

Psychotherapy, as we know it today, involves

A) learning new labels for experience.
B) learning to express unwanted thoughts.
C) expressing feared material without reprimand
D) all of the above

Question 52

Willfully putting thoughts out of ones consciousness is called

A) regression.
B) denial.
C) suppression.
D) avoidance conflict.

Question 53

Skinner invented a device for studying learning. What was it called?

A) the lever
B) the memory drum
C) the paired associate device
D) the Skinner box

Question 54

Before he became a psychologist, Skinner was interested in having a career as a(n)

A) astrophysicist.
B) physician.
C) taxidermist.
D) writer.

Question 55

"Mentalism" explains behavior in terms of

A) intelligence.
B) hypnosis.
C) thoughts and other mental states.
D) goals.

Question 56

Language is, for Dollard and Miller, the key to understanding Freudian __________ processes.

A) id
B) defensive
C) ego
D) superego

Question 57

A primary reinforcer

A) increases the frequency of responding.
B) is always pleasant.
C) is determined by the environment.
D) is learned, rather than innate.

Question 58

What happened to participants in Wegner's study when they were told not to think about a white bear?

A) participants were able to easily avoid thinking about the bear
B) participants completely forgot about the bear
C) participants found it amusing
D) participants experienced intrusive thoughts of the white bear

Question 59

According to the original frustration-aggression hypothesis,

A) frustration always leads to aggression.
B) aggression is always a consequence of frustration.
C) the relationship between frustration and aggression is simple and straightforward.
D) all of the above

Question 60

An operant response is a behavior that

A) has been produced by shaping.
B) has an effect on the environment.
C) has been freely emitted by the organism.
D) occurs in a laboratory.

Question 61

A shortcoming of continuous reinforcement is that it produces learning that is

A) difficult to eliminate.
B) impossible to generalize to new situations.
C) can rapidly become extinct.
D) not measurable by observers.

Question 62

Every response is reinforced in a __________ schedule.

A) partial
B) ratio
C) continuous
D) interval

Question 63

A schedule of reinforcement refers to which of the following?

A) the specific contingency between responses and reinforcements
B) the time of day (morning, afternoon, etc.) when reinforcements are given
C) the written record of reinforcements which have been given
D) the difference between reinforcement and punishment

Question 64

Staats developed a theory called

A) behavioral psychology.
B) repertory psychoanalysis.
C) psychological behaviorism.
D) tokenism.

Question 65

Continuous reinforcement schedules generally produce __________ learning.

A) very slow
B) no
C) rapid
D) inappropriate

Question 66

Which statement best describes Skinner's attitude toward language?

A) Language is the highest human achievement.
B) Psychotherapy consists of learning new ways of talking to yourself.
C) Language can be explained in behavioral terms (e.g., as stimuli and responses).
D) A universal language would help achieve world peace.

Question 67

Skinner's utopian community was called

A) Utopia.
B) Skinner City.
C) Walden.
D) Walden Two.

Question 68

The first step in behavior modification is

A) extinguishing the undesirable behavior.
B) selecting a reinforcer.
C) deciding on a schedule of reinforcement.
D) making a functional analysis of the behavior to be changed.

Question 69

Which statement is true of a secondary negative reinforcerment?

A) It increases the frequency of behavior.
B) It decreases the frequency of behavior.
C) It is another term for punishment.
D) It is determined by biology.

Question 70

Punishment will only reduce the frequency of behavior if

A) it is predictable.
B) it is explained.
C) it is contingent on a response occurring.
D) it is given by authority figures.

Question 71

Desirable behavior can be increased by using

A) primary reinforcers.
B) secondary reinforcers.
C) schedules of reinforcement.
D) all of the above

Question 72

Skinner describes people as not

A) able to improve society.
B) capable of changing in adulthood.
C) selfish.
D) free.

Question 73

A parent who wished to apply Skinnerian principles to teach a child to behave, even when the parent was no longer present to reward good behavior, should

A) forget it. It can't be done, according to Skinner.
B) use a continuous reinforcement schedule.
C) use a partial reinforcement schedule.
D) use punishment instead of reinforcement.

Question 74

Critics accuse Skinner of ignoring

A) ignoring uniquely human capacities.
B) focusing too much on the environment and not enough on the person.
C) too much emphasis on situational control.
D) all of the above

Question 75

Sarah's mother wants her to learn to talk at the dinner table when only the family is present, but to keep quiet when there are guests. Which kind of learning would be appropriate?

A) discrimination learning
B) superstitious learning
C) classical conditioning
D) learning by continuous reinforcement

Question 76

Skinner said that societies should be designed so that

A) individuals are supervised more closely.
B) reinforcements cause people to behave in ways considered desirable.
C) everyone has an equal say in how the society is governed.
D) manual labor is not necessary.

Question 77

Systematic application of learning principles in therapy is called

A) systematic therapy.
B) a functional analysis.
C) insight therapy.
D) behavior modification.

Question 78

Punishment

A) has no potential adverse effects.
B) reduces the frequency of behavior.
C) influences only the behavior that is punished.
D) all of the above

Question 79

Staats advanced behavioral theory by

A) developing a more advanced Skinner box.
B) being the first behaviorist to study humans.
C) showing the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.
D) contributing behavioral insights to an understanding of personality.

Question 80

If you hear music every time you scratch your forehead, and so you scratch your forehead more and more often, Skinner would conclude that the music was

A) a hallucination.
B) a reinforcer.
C) a punishment.
D) a challenge.