Question 1

According to the concept of instinctual drift, which of the following statements would be true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the concept of instinctual drift,...

Question 2

Rats and human patients experience pleasure when the hypothalamus is stimulated and will act as if they have just been _.

Accepted Answer

Stimulation of the hypothalamus is associated with the brain's reward system, which reinforces behavior by providing a pleasurable sensation.

Question 3

The behavioural view of learning is both challenged and questioned by: 166)

Accepted Answer

The behavioural view of learning is challenged by the concepts of insight and cognitive maps because these concepts suggest that learning involves more than just stimulus-response associations, indicating a role for mental processes.

Question 4

In classical conditioning, the key factor is not how often the conditioned stimulus is paired with the unconditioned stimulus, but how well the conditioned stimulus predicts the appearance of the unconditioned stimulus. This is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Expectancy refers to the anticipation or prediction that the conditioned stimulus will be followed by the unconditioned stimulus, which is crucial in classical conditioning.

Question 5

The expectancy model was discussed in the context of classical conditioning and it asserted that the key factor in learning is how well the .

Accepted Answer

The expectancy model in classical conditioning suggests that learning occurs when the conditioned stimulus predicts the unconditioned stimulus, leading to the formation of an expectation.

Question 6

Edward Tolman's research demonstrating that rats in a maze appeared to develop cognitive maps of the maze without receiving any reinforcement provided evidence most supportive of the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Tolman's research showed that rats could learn the layout of a maze without reinforcement, supporting the concept of latent learning, where learning occurs without obvious reinforcement and is not immediately demonstrated.

Question 7

From a cognitive learning perspective, superstitious behaviour can best be explained in terms of:

Accepted Answer

Perceived contingency is the belief that one event causes another. In the case of superstitious behavior, people may believe that a certain behavior (e.g., knocking on wood) will lead to a desired outcome (e.g., good luck). This belief is reinforced when the desired outcome occurs after the behavior, even if there is no actual causal relationship between the two.

Question 8

The fact that exposure to stimulating environments seems to slow down the declines in cognitive functioning that usually occur in late adulthood best demonstrates how ________.

Accepted Answer

Exposure to stimulating environments can lead to neuroplasticity, where the brain adapts and changes in response to new learning experiences, thus influencing biological processes and slowing cognitive decline.

Question 9

A researcher conducts an experiment in which rats in one group (Group 1) receive 10 learning trials in which they receive a shock after a light is lit. Another group of rats (Group 2) receives the same 10 trials in which the shock is paired with the light, but they also receive 10 additional random trials in which the light is not followed by a shock.
According to the expectancy model of classical conditioning, we would expect the tone to become a conditioned stimulus for fear for the rats:

Accepted Answer

The expectancy model suggests that conditioning occurs when there is a reliable prediction of the unconditioned stimulus (shock) by the conditioned stimulus (light). In Group 1, the light consistently predicts the shock, leading to conditioning. In Group 2, the additional trials where the light is not followed by a shock reduce the reliability of the light as a predictor, weakening the conditioning.

Question 10

Cognitive learning theorists believe that the most important factor in learning through classical conditioning is:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive learning theorists emphasize the importance of the predictability and reliability of the conditioned stimulus in signaling the arrival of the unconditioned stimulus, as it affects the learner's expectations and understanding of the relationship between the stimuli.

Question 11

Which of the following is most difficult to explain using the behavioural perspective of learning?

Accepted Answer

Latent learning is difficult to explain using the behavioural perspective of learning because it involves learning that is not immediately reinforced.

Question 12

Learning that occurs by watching the behaviour of a model is called learning.

Accepted Answer

Observational learning occurs when an individual learns by observing the actions and outcomes of others' behavior.

Question 13

According to this perspective of operant conditioning, the best predictor of behaviour is the perceived contingency between a behaviour and its consequences. This is the ________ perspective of operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective of operant conditioning emphasizes the role of perceived contingencies, where individuals learn to associate their behavior with consequences based on their understanding and perception of the relationship between the two.

Question 14

Edward Tolman's research on how rats performed in mazes provided powerful evidence suggesting that:

Accepted Answer

Tolman's research demonstrated that rats developed cognitive maps, or mental representations, of the maze, indicating that their navigation was not solely based on learned behaviors or reinforcement.

Question 15

When young animals are raised in "enriched" environments, they tend to have heavier brains with more dendrites and synapses and have higher concentrations of various neurotransmitters. Instances like these most clearly demonstrate how:

Accepted Answer

Enriched environments provide stimuli that promote neural development, showing that learning experiences can lead to biological changes in the brain.

Question 16

Which of the following provides the most direct evidence for the existence of cognitive maps in animals?

Accepted Answer

The rat's ability to take an alternative route when the direct path is blocked suggests it has a mental representation of the maze, indicative of a cognitive map.

Question 17

It is challenging for a traditional behaviourist to explain this aspect of Tolman's latent learning research with rats:

Accepted Answer

Tolman's latent learning research demonstrated that rats could learn a maze without direct reinforcement, challenging the traditional behaviorist view that reinforcement is necessary for learning.

Question 18

Which of the following has the highest adaptive significance for humans in terms of its ability to save time and effort and to reduce exposure to potentially dangerous trial-and-error processes?

Accepted Answer

Observational learning allows individuals to learn by watching others, which can save time and effort and reduce the risks associated with trial-and-error learning.

Question 19

Biological factors can influence learning as evidenced in the concepts of _.

Accepted Answer

Preparedness and instinctual drift are biological factors that influence learning. Preparedness refers to the idea that certain associations are learned more easily due to evolutionary factors, while instinctual drift involves the tendency for learned behavior to revert to innate behavior patterns.

Question 20

In explaining the effects of operant conditioning, which of the following is most likely to be emphasized by a cognitive psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists emphasize the role of mental processes, such as awareness and understanding of the relationship between behavior and consequences, in operant conditioning.

Quiz 7: Learning and Adaptation: the Role of Experience