Question 1

Which of the following is not a reason why increased aggression is of particular concern from playing violent video games?
A) Players actively engage in practicing violent acts.
B) The increased aggressiveness lasts for several minutes after playing.
C) Players are rewarded for participating in violent acts.
D) Players pay particular attention to weapons, outfitting, and ammunition types.

Accepted Answer

The reason why increased aggression is of particular concern from playing violent video games is not because players pay particular attention to weapons, outfitting, and ammunition types, but because players actively engage in practicing violent acts, the increased aggressiveness lasts for several minutes after playing, and players are rewarded for participating in violent acts.

Question 2

Controlled laboratory research on observational learning of aggression typically requires participants to __________and then receive the opportunity to act aggressively.
A) receive an aversive or painful stimulus
B) complete a questionnaire
C) engage in a group discussion
D) watch a violent or nonviolent program

Accepted Answer

The controlled laboratory research on observational learning of aggression typically requires participants to watch a violent or nonviolent program to observe and learn aggressive behavior. This exposure to a modeled aggressive behavior will then be followed by the opportunity for the participants to act aggressively in the context of the study. This allows researchers to examine the impact of the observed aggression on subsequent behavior. A and B are not relevant to this type of research, and while C may occur in some studies, it is not a necessary component.

Question 3

According to the learned helplessness model, one way to treat depression is to
A) give the depressed person a successful experience at controlling an important event.
B) explain to the depressed person that he or she cannot control everything.
C) give the depressed person a series of pleasant experiences.
D) pair the unpleasant feelings with a pleasant experience.

Accepted Answer

The learned helplessness model suggests that depression can arise from feeling unable to control important events in one's life. Treating depression can involve giving the depressed person a successful experience at controlling an important event, which can counteract the sense of helplessness and improve mood. This is known as behavioral activation therapy. Options B, C, and D may be beneficial in some cases, but they do not directly address the root cause of learned helplessness and are not as effective as behavioral activation therapy for treating depression.

Question 4

The neurotransmitter__________ has been found to play a role in both learned helplessness and depression.
A) acetylcholine
B) dopamine
C) serotonin
D) adrenalin

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that has been found to play a role in both learned helplessness (a condition in which an individual feels helpless and unable to change their circumstances) and depression. Low levels of serotonin are associated with these conditions, and medications that increase serotonin (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs) are commonly used to treat depression.

Question 5

Todd is having difficulty at work and has failed to please his boss on each of the last three projects he has been assigned. He begins to feel as if there is nothing he can do to turn things around. Soon, he starts to feel there is also nothing he can do about some of the difficulties he has been having with members of his family. He starts to act withdrawn and unmotivated most of the time. Todd seems to be suffering from
A) anxiety.
B) low self-esteem.
C) low achievement motivation.
D) learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

Todd is displaying symptoms of learned helplessness, which is a state of feeling powerless and unable to take any action to improve one's situation. His repeated failures at work have led him to believe that no matter what he does, he will not be able to improve his performance. This belief has now spilled over into his personal life, and he feels unable to resolve conflicts with his family. This sense of helplessness leads to feelings of depression and resignation, causing Todd to become withdrawn and unmotivated.

Question 6

In one study, policies and procedures were changed for some elderly residents. Which change seemed to have the most beneficial effects on the residents?
A) Having the staff do many of the residents' daily chores and responsibilities for them
B) Explaining to the residents how the staff would now take care of their problems
C) Explaining to the residents that they have earned their rest and should enjoy it
D) Emphasizing a sense of increased control and responsibility to the residents

Accepted Answer

Emphasizing a sense of increased control and responsibility to the residents had the most beneficial effects on the elderly residents. This approach empowered the residents and allowed them to feel more in control of their lives, which led to improved well-being and satisfaction. Option A, having staff do everything for the residents, may have resulted in decreased independence and a sense of helplessness. Option B, explaining how staff would take care of their problems, may have been helpful but did not address the underlying issue of residents feeling powerless. Option C, telling residents to enjoy their rest, may have been well-intentioned but did not provide a solution to their concerns.

Question 7

A large number of studies have examined the relationship between watching aggressive television and acting aggressively. Although there are some exceptions, most of this research finds
A) there is little evidence that watching aggressive television increases aggression.
B) watching aggressive television increases the likelihood of acting aggressively, at least under some circumstances.
C) watching aggressive television is related to aggressive behavior, but this is because aggressive people tend to watch aggression on television.
D) watching aggressive television increases the likelihood of acting aggressively but only in children.

Accepted Answer

The majority of research in this area has found that watching aggressive television increases the likelihood of acting aggressively, at least under some circumstances. While there may be exceptions and individual differences, this is the most consistent finding in the literature.

Question 8

The original learned helplessness experiments placed dogs in a harness where they were exposed to electric shocks. Later, the dogs were placed in a shuttle-box where they experienced more shocks. The dogs that exhibited learned helplessness
A) quickly learned to escape the shocks in a shuttle-box.
B) failed to escape the shocks in the shuttle-box.
C) escaped the shocks in the shuttle-box but only after several trials.
D) escaped the shuttle-box shocks but then showed signs of helplessness.

Accepted Answer

The dogs that exhibited learned helplessness failed to escape the shocks in the shuttle-box, even though escape was possible.

Question 9

According to the original learned helplessness model, depression begins when people
A) fail at some important task.
B) experience an inability to control important events in their lives.
C) have a series of aversive experiences.
D) lose their motivation to work.

Accepted Answer

The original learned helplessness model proposes that depression develops when individuals experience an inability to control important events in their lives. This feeling of helplessness and lack of control leads to a sense of hopelessness and may contribute to the development of symptoms of depression.

Question 10

Researchers in one study found that residents in an old-age home were more active and healthier when they were given additional control over the events in their daily lives. This finding is consistent with theory and research on
A) self-efficacy.
B) locus of control.
C) behavior therapy.
D) learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers in one study found that residents...

Question 11

Learned helplessness in the elderly often takes the form of
A) a lack of motivation and activity.
B) depression and suicide attempts.
C) extreme agitation.
D) none of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness in the elderly often manifests as a lack of motivation and activity, as seniors may feel resigned to their circumstances and stop trying to improve their situations. It can also result from the belief that they cannot change their circumstances or behavior. Depression and suicide attempts are more often associated with untreated mental health issues rather than learned helplessness, and extreme agitation can be a symptom of numerous other conditions.

Question 12

Dogs exposed to aversive stimuli from which they could not escape were found to
A) learn through observation how to be helpless.
B) avoid the stimulus on every trial.
C) stop moving when placed in a shuttle-box situation.
D) suffer from neurological damage.

Accepted Answer

This is the classic result of learned helplessness. Dogs exposed to aversive stimuli from which they could not escape eventually stop trying to escape, even when given the opportunity to do so in a different context (e.g. a shuttle-box). This is seen as a form of depression or hopelessness. Option A suggests that the dogs learned how to be helpless from other dogs, which is not supported by research. Option B suggests that the dogs continued to try to escape, which is not supported by the learned helplessness literature. Option D is not supported by research on learned helplessness.

Question 13

In the original learned helplessness model, people were said to experience learned helplessness when they
A) encountered obstacles they could not overcome.
B) encountered aversive events.
C) generalized their inability to control one unpleasant situation to another situation, even if the second situation was within their control.
D) gave up trying after they realized they could not do anything about an aversive situation.

Accepted Answer

In the original learned helplessness model, people were said to experience learned helplessness when they generalized their inability to control one unpleasant situation to another situation, even if the second situation was within their control. This means that they may give up trying in the second situation, even if they could have potentially overcome it, because they have learned to feel helpless and powerless.

Question 14

Children in one study were given an opportunity to imitate an aggressive model after watching a videotape of the model. The researchers found that the aggressive behavior was most likely to be imitated when the model used a toy. How did they describe this effect?
A) These acts were consistent with a child's locus of control.
B) Because it was easier for the child to remember.
C) Playing with a toy matched the child's scripts for public behaviors.
D) The child felt angry that they were deprived of a toy so they imitated the action to reduce that emotional state.

Accepted Answer

The researchers found that the aggressive behavior was most likely to be imitated when the model used a toy, possibly because it was easier for the child to remember the action when associated with a toy.

Question 15

Jeff enjoys playing video games on a regular basis, and the more realistic the violence in the combat video games he plays, the more he enjoys it. Because the games in which he is actively engaged are so realistic, you predict that Jeff will
A) act more aggressively for several hours after playing.
B) commit acts of violence toward his friends that match the violence in the games he plays.
C) act more aggressively after playing, but only for a short time frame.
D) not act more aggressively than he did before playing his games.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that playing violent video games can lead to short-term increases in aggressive behavior, but these effects tend to dissipate over time. It is unlikely that Jeff will commit acts of violence toward his friends or become more aggressive long-term, but there may be a short period of increased aggression right after playing the games. Overall, the effect of violent video games on aggression is still debated and varies from person to person.

Question 16

Which of the following accounts for the longer duration of depression relative to the duration of learned helplessness effects?
A) There are many causes for depression in addition to learned helplessness.
B) Depressed people think about and then re-experience the helplessness-inducing events.
C) Reminders of the initial helplessness event can reactivate depression.
D) All of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

While all of the options listed may contribute to the longer duration of depression, option B specifically highlights a key difference between depression and learned helplessness. In depression, individuals may actively think about and re-experience the helplessness-inducing events, prolonging the effects of the initial incident. This is not necessarily the case with learned helplessness, which may dissipate once the individual is in a different context and no longer experiencing the aversive stimuli.

Question 17

Investigations of the impact of exposure to violence have shown the amount and kind of __________predicts how aggressive they are later.
A) sports children participate in
B) environment in which children grew up
C) school children attend
D) television children watch

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that exposure to violent media, including television, has a significant impact on children's aggression levels.

Question 18

From research on violence, we can say__________ are more likely to turn to violence themselves.
A) children exposed to a violent environment
B) when children are punished randomly, they
C) children who frequently model punishing acts
D) nothing about the personalities of children who

Accepted Answer

Research has found that children who are exposed to a violent environment are more likely to imitate those behaviors and turn to violence themselves.

Question 19

Under which of the following circumstances would we expect children to be least likely to imitate an aggressive model?
A) When the model is declared a hero and rewarded.
B) When they see the model engage in justified aggression.
C) When the model is punished for aggressive behavior.
D) When the child sees a behavior the child likes.

Accepted Answer

When the model is punished for aggressive behavior, children learn that aggression is not socially acceptable and are less likely to imitate it.

Question 20

Researchers have found that the basic psychological mechanisms of learned helplessness are similar to the same processes associated with which psychological disorder?
A) Anxiety
B) Depression
C) Schizophrenia
D) Obsessive-Compulsive disorder

Accepted Answer

The basic psychological mechanisms of learned helplessness are similar to those processes associated with depression, such as feeling helpless and hopeless, and lacking motivation to change one's circumstances. Anxiety, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder have different underlying mechanisms and symptoms.

Quiz 14: The Behavioral Social Learning Approach: Relevant Research

Which of the following is not a reason why increased aggression is of particular concern from playing violent video games?

Controlled laboratory research on observational learning of aggression typically requires participants to __________and then receive the opportunity to act aggressively.

According to the learned helplessness model, one way to treat depression is to

The neurotransmitter__________ has been found to play a role in both learned helplessness and depression.

In one study, policies and procedures were changed for some elderly residents. Which change seemed to have the most beneficial effects on the residents?

A large number of studies have examined the relationship between watching aggressive television and acting aggressively. Although there are some exceptions, most of this research finds

The original learned helplessness experiments placed dogs in a harness where they were exposed to electric shocks. Later, the dogs were placed in a shuttle-box where they experienced more shocks. The dogs that exhibited learned helplessness

According to the original learned helplessness model, depression begins when people

Researchers in one study found that residents in an old-age home were more active and healthier when they were given additional control over the events in their daily lives. This finding is consistent with theory and research on

Learned helplessness in the elderly often takes the form of

Dogs exposed to aversive stimuli from which they could not escape were found to

In the original learned helplessness model, people were said to experience learned helplessness when they

Children in one study were given an opportunity to imitate an aggressive model after watching a videotape of the model. The researchers found that the aggressive behavior was most likely to be imitated when the model used a toy. How did they describe this effect?

Jeff enjoys playing video games on a regular basis, and the more realistic the violence in the combat video games he plays, the more he enjoys it. Because the games in which he is actively engaged are so realistic, you predict that Jeff will

Which of the following accounts for the longer duration of depression relative to the duration of learned helplessness effects?

Investigations of the impact of exposure to violence have shown the amount and kind of __________predicts how aggressive they are later.

From research on violence, we can say__________ are more likely to turn to violence themselves.

Under which of the following circumstances would we expect children to be least likely to imitate an aggressive model?

Researchers have found that the basic psychological mechanisms of learned helplessness are similar to the same processes associated with which psychological disorder?