Question 1

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses is called:

Accepted Answer

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses is called conditioning. Stimulus discrimination and generalization are specific types of conditioning, while extinction refers to the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response.

Question 2

Ivan Pavlov was a(n):

Accepted Answer

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist best known for his work on classical conditioning.

Question 3

The term elicited is:

Accepted Answer

The term elicited is used in classical conditioning and means that the stimulus "draws out" or causes an existing behavior to occur. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus (such as a bell) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (such as food) to eventually elicit a conditioned response (such as salivation) without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 4

Essentially, classical conditioning is a process of:

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is a type of learning where an association is formed between two stimuli. The conditioned stimulus (CS) becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to produce a conditioned response (CR). In other words, it involves learning to link a neutral stimulus (CS) with a meaningful stimulus (UCS) to elicit a specific response (CR).

Question 5

-The different schedules of reinforcement produce different patterns of responding. In the graph shown, which pattern represents the highest rate of responding?

Accepted Answer

The highest rate of responding is represented by the schedule that produces the most responses in a given period of time. In the graph shown, the schedule that produces the most responses is the one represented by line A.

Question 6

Six-year-old Blair liked the first grade right up until herteacher, Ms. Havemayer, took maternity leave. The substitute teacher, old Mrs. Snarly, was strict and scolded Blair onseveral occasions, making her cry. On one Saturday morningas Blair was helping her father with grocery shopping, she suddenly came face to face with old Mrs. Snarly. Blair instantly burst into tears. For Blair, Mrs. Snarly in the grocery store is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

Mrs. Snarly in the grocery store is a conditioned stimulus because Blair has associated her with negative experiences in the classroom and now has a conditioned response (crying) when she encounters her outside of school.

Question 7

The photo shows a dolphin trainer making a specific hand gesture and a distinct sound to which the dolphin will respondby performing a somersault in the air. In operant conditioning terms, the hand gesture and sound are:

Accepted Answer

The hand gesture and sound are discriminative stimuli because they signal to the dolphin that it should perform a specific behavior in order to receive a reward. This is a conditioned association that has been established through repeated pairings of the stimulus (hand gesture and sound) with the behavior (somersault) and the reward (such as food or praise). Primary and negative reinforcers are types of rewards, while unconditioned stimuli are natural stimuli that automatically elicit a response without prior learning.

Question 8

In response to a cold temperature, your body will shiver reflexively. Using Pavlov's terminology, the cold temperature would be termed a(n):

Accepted Answer

The cold temperature is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) because it naturally elicits the response of shivering without any prior learning or conditioning.

Question 9

What was Pavlov studying when he began his studies on the phenomenon that eventually became known as classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Pavlov was originally studying the role of saliva in digestion when he noticed that dogs would begin to salivate before food was presented, leading to his research on classical conditioning.

Question 10

Which of the following learning concepts can be attributed to the person in this photo?

Accepted Answer

The person in the photo is B.F. Skinner, who developed the concept of the "law of effect." This concept states that behaviors that are followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by negative consequences are less likely to be repeated. Skinner also developed the principles of operant conditioning, which involve shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment.

Question 11

Psychologists formally define learning as:

Accepted Answer

Psychologists formally define learning as a process that produces a relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge as a result of past experience. This definition emphasizes the importance of experience in shaping behavior and the lasting nature of the changes that occur. The other options, such as natural or instinctive processes, developmental factors, or the replacement of habits, do not fully capture the complex nature of learning as understood by psychologists.

Question 12

In response to cutting up an onion, airborne irritants released by the onion will cause your eyes to automatically water orproduce tears. Using Pavlov's terminology, the tears would be termed a(n):

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's unconditioned response (UCR) refers to a naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus (UCS). In this case, the act of cutting up an onion - the unconditioned stimulus - causes the eyes to water or produce tears - the unconditioned response. As this response is not learned or conditioned, it is the best choice for this scenario.

Question 13

To produce a learned response in classical conditioning, what two elements are repeatedly paired?

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus (such as a bell) is repeatedly paired with a stimulus (such as food) that naturally elicits a response (such as salivation). Over time, the neutral stimulus alone will elicit the learned response (salivation) without the presence of the natural stimulus (food).

Question 14

Which of the following learning concepts was extensively studied by the person in this photo?

Accepted Answer

The person in the photo is likely Albert Bandura, who is well known for his extensive research on observational learning, also known as social learning theory.

Question 15

If you shine a bright light directly into a person's eye, the pupil of the eye will reflexively constrict. Using Pavlov's terminology, the bright light would be termed the _____, and the pupil constricting would be termed the _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you shine a bright light directly...

Question 16

-The different schedules of reinforcement produce different patterns of responding. In the graph shown, the fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement is reflected in which pattern of responding?

Accepted Answer

In a fixed-interval schedule, responses increase as the time for reinforcement approaches, leading to a scalloped pattern of responding, which is typically represented by option C.

Question 17

When Rani was having problems at school, she often talked things over with her grandfather. Her grandfather, who always smoked a pipe, was warm, reassuring, and always supportive. Years later, Rani still finds the smell of pipe tobacco soothing. In classical conditioning terms, Rani'sfondness for the smell of pipe tobacco may be described asa(n):

Accepted Answer

Rani's fondness for the smell of pipe tobacco is a conditioned response because it is a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (the smell of pipe tobacco) that became associated with a positive emotional experience (her grandfather's comforting presence).

Question 18

Six-year-old Blair liked going to school right up until her first-grade teacher, Ms. Hanemayer, took maternity leave. The substitute teacher, old Mrs. Snarly, was strict and scolded Blair on several occasions, making her cry. On one Saturday morning as Blair was helping her father with grocery shopping, she suddenly came face to face with old Mrs. Snarly.Blair instantly burst into tears. Blair's crying at just the sightof Mrs. Snarly is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Blair's crying at the sight of Mrs. Snarly is a learned response that has been conditioned by the negative experiences she had with the substitute teacher. This is an example of a conditioned response.

Question 19

What is going on in this famous photo?

Accepted Answer

The photo depicts the famous "Little Albert" experiment conducted by John Watson and his graduate student Rosalie Rayner. They were studying the classical conditioning of fear response in an infant by pairing a loud noise with the presentation of a white rat. The experiment is controversial and unethical by modern standards, as they intentionally caused fear and trauma in the infant subject.

Question 20

What is shown in this photo?

Accepted Answer

The photo most likely depicts a child imitating an adult's aggressive actions that they saw in a movie. There is no evidence of shaping or positive reinforcement, experimental manipulation, or learned helplessness in the image.

Quiz 5: Learning