Question 1

The idea that genes set the boundaries for culture is termed by sociobiologists

Accepted Answer

The leash principle is the concept in sociobiology that suggests genes set certain boundaries or limits within which culture can develop, similar to how a leash limits the movement of a dog.

Question 2

The A in Watson's ABCs stands for

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

is a measure of response strength by cutting off reinforcement and noting how many times an animal will continue to respond before giving up.

Accepted Answer

Resistance to extinction is the measure of response strength by cutting off reinforcement and noting how many times an animal will continue to respond before giving up. Acquisition refers to the process of learning a new behavior, and fixed ratio refers to a specific schedule of reinforcement where a behavior is reinforced after a fixed number of responses. Therefore, the best choice is B, resistance to extinction.

Question 4

Prepared learning is defined as genetically programmed

Accepted Answer

Prepared learning refers to genetically programmed patterns of behavior, such as a bird's ability to build a nest or a spider's ability to spin a web. It is not specifically related to physical traits, intelligence capacity, or other forms of learning.

Question 5

While the early compositional theorists emphasized biochemical composition, the modern physiological zone personality researchers emphasize is

Accepted Answer

The modern physiological zone personality researchers emphasize processes rather than biochemical composition. They focus on how the body's physiological systems interact with the environment and influence personality development.

Question 6

According to this chapter, what is a flaw of the pharmaceutical industry?

Accepted Answer

The flaw of the pharmaceutical industry mentioned in the chapter is that it views psychological dysfunction as a disease that can be completely understood, which is not necessarily true. Option A and D are incorrect as they mention the assumption that behavioral problems cause bad chemistry or vice versa, which is not specifically addressed as a flaw of the pharmaceutical industry in the chapter. Option B is partially correct as the use of animal testing has been a widely discussed ethical concern in the pharmaceutical industry, but it is not the specific flaw mentioned in this chapter.

Question 7

Sociobiology has proven itself remarkably heuristic, meaning that

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology has sparked intense criticism and debate, but it has also stimulated research over a broad range of topics. This is the definition of the term "heuristic," which means that a concept or approach is useful in generating new ideas or solutions. While sociobiology has faced backlash, it has also inspired new and innovative research in areas such as evolutionary psychology and behavioral ecology.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of three basic emotions Watson says are inborn?

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson, a pioneer of behaviorism, identified three basic emotions that he believed were inborn: fear, rage, and love. Happiness is not listed among these foundational emotions according to Watson's theory.

Question 9

Operant conditioning uses consequences to shape behavior, while classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

All of the options correctly describe aspects of classical conditioning. A) Classical conditioning works with reflexes and emotions, associating them with new stimuli. B) It involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned (active) stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone can elicit a response. C) It conditions involuntary behaviors (like emotional and physiological responses) to occur in response to new stimuli.

Question 10

In the behaviorist model of psychology, humans are seen as

Accepted Answer

In the behaviorist model, humans are seen as trained animals who respond to environmental stimuli and are conditioned through reinforcement and punishment. This model emphasizes the importance of observable behavior as opposed to internal states or processes such as thoughts, feelings, or consciousness. Thus, humans are viewed as having learned specific behaviors through past experiences and shaping, rather than being inherently self-actualizing agents or walking chemical reactions.

Question 11

Skinner invented a small compartment which is known as the

Accepted Answer

Skinner invented the Skinner box, also known as the operant conditioning chamber, which is a small compartment used to study animal behavior and conditioning.

Question 12

What is the foundation for personality traits according to modern compositional theorists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the foundation for personality traits...

Question 13

Behaviorists believe that instead of trying to find family problems or personal dynamics behind a behavior, you should instead simply treat the problem behaviors with

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists believe that behavior can be modified through learning processes, and thus the most effective way to treat problem behaviors is through behavior therapy. This approach focuses on changing the behavior through reinforcement and punishment, rather than analyzing the underlying psychological or emotional issues. Prescription drugs, meditation, and psychoanalysis are not typically used by behaviorists as primary treatments for problem behaviors.

Question 14

The total number of genes carried by a species is called

Accepted Answer

The term for the total number of genes carried by a species is genome.

Question 15

Teaching a dog tricks by rewarding the dog when it is making successive approximations, or steps toward the correct action, is an example of

Accepted Answer

Successive approximation, also known as shaping, involves rewarding a behavior that is close to the final desired behavior and gradually increasing the criteria for reward until the dog is performing the desired behavior. This method is often used in teaching complex tricks or behaviors.

Question 16

Behaviorists are also sometimes called

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists are often called S-R (stimulus-response) psychologists because they believe that behavior is shaped by the stimuli in the environment and the organism's responses to those stimuli. This focuses on the relationship between the environmental stimuli and the behavioral responses they elicit.

Question 17

What is the reproductive imperative?

Accepted Answer

The reproductive imperative refers to the inherent drive in organisms to pass on their genes to the next generation. This drive is what motivates many behaviors related to mating and reproduction.

Question 18

For Behaviorists, in what zone is personality always reactive-responding to consequences dispensed by the environment?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists believe that personality is shaped by interactions with the environment, specifically through learning from the consequences of one's actions, which aligns with the concept of a "Situational zone" where behavior and personality are seen as responses to environmental stimuli.

Question 19

Watson's ABCs were Associated Behaviors Connect, while Skinner's ABCs were

Accepted Answer

Skinner's ABCs refer to Antecedents (what happens before a behavior), Behavior (the observable action), and Consequences (what happens after a behavior). This is a fundamental principle of behaviorism which emphasizes the importance of environmental factors in shaping behavior. Watson's ABCs, on the other hand, referred to Associated Behaviors Connect, which is not as closely related to the study of behavior as Skinner's ABCs. A, B, and D are all incorrect choices as they do not accurately reflect either Watson's or Skinner's principles.

Question 20

What are cultural universals?

Accepted Answer

Cultural universals are symbols and behaviors that are found to exist in every society, regardless of its cultural differences. These include basic necessities for survival like food, water, shelter as well as language, social norms, and family structures.

Quiz 3: Conditioninglearning Theories of Personality