Question 1

According to arousal theory, which of the following BEST describes how arousal influences performance?

Accepted Answer

Arousal theory suggests that there is an optimal level of arousal for performance. Too little arousal can result in boredom or lack of focus, whereas too much arousal can result in anxiety or stress that can hurt performance. Therefore, choice C is the most accurate description, as it acknowledges that increased arousal can improve performance up to a point, but after that point, it can become detrimental.

Question 2

"Instinctual drift" is the answer to which question?

Accepted Answer

Instinctual drift refers to the tendency for animals to gradually return to an innate, instinctual response after learning a less natural response. This means that even with conditioning (either classical or operant), animals may revert back to their natural instincts over time.

Question 3

Gail is taking psychology because it is a required course for her major, most directly suggesting that her motivation for taking the course is _____.

Accepted Answer

Gail's motivation for taking the course is extrinsic because it is based on external factors, such as the requirement for her major, rather than her own personal interest or enjoyment of the subject matter.

Question 4

It is easier for humans to develop a fear of snakes than to develop a fear of flowers, which BEST illustrates _____.

Accepted Answer

Biological preparedness is the idea that humans and animals are evolutionarily prepared to quickly learn to fear stimuli that posed a threat to survival in the past, such as snakes or spiders. Flowers are not typically associated with danger or survival threats, making it less likely for humans to develop a fear of them.

Question 5

Darren has been moving into his new dorm all day and is exhausted and hungry. He decides to spend the evening eating pizza while watching a video. Which of the following theories BEST explains Darren's behaviors this evening?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Darren has been moving into his new...

Question 6

Henry really liked to practice playing the guitar, but when his mother started rewarding him for doing so, he spent less time practicing. Henry's reduced interest in practicing MOST directly illustrates which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The overjustification effect is the phenomenon where providing external rewards for a behavior that is already intrinsically rewarding can lead to a reduction in that behavior. In this case, Henry enjoyed playing the guitar for its own sake, but when his mother began rewarding him for it, the external reward became the focus and his intrinsic motivation decreased.

Question 7

Amy enjoys working as a physician because it provides her with a salary that allows her a very upscale lifestyle. Chip enjoys working as a clinical psychologist because he derives pleasure from engaging in the therapeutic process. According to the textbook, Amy's motivation for working is MOST likely _____, and Chip's motivation for working is MOST likely _____.

Accepted Answer

Amy's motivation is extrinsic, as she is primarily motivated by the external rewards that come with her job (a high salary). On the other hand, Chip's motivation is intrinsic, as he is motivated by the internal satisfaction he receives from helping others through the therapeutic process.

Question 8

Wilcoxon et al. (1971) demonstrated the importance of biological predispositions for learning when their research revealed that after being made ill from drinking blue, sour-tasting water, _____.

Accepted Answer

Wilcoxon et al. (1971) found that rats, but not birds, avoided sour-tasting water after being made ill, demonstrating that rats have a biological predisposition to associate taste with illness.

Question 9

Carlton attends class regularly to avoid losing class participation points, an example of _____ motivation. Clarissa attends class regularly because she enjoys the activities, an example of _____ motivation.

Accepted Answer

Carlton is motivated by external factors (avoiding losing points), which is extrinsic motivation. Clarissa is motivated by internal satisfaction (enjoying activities), which is intrinsic motivation.

Question 10

_____ is to internal motivation as _____ is to external motivation.

Accepted Answer

Arousal theory is related to internal motivation, as it focuses on the idea that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal. Incentive theory, on the other hand, is related to external motivation, as it suggests that individuals are motivated by external rewards and incentives. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 11

The Brelands' inability to successfully use operant conditioning to train pigs and raccoons to maintain their ability to pick up oversized coins is BEST explained by _____.

Accepted Answer

Instinctual drift is the tendency of an animal to revert back to instinctive behaviors that interfere with conditioned behaviors. In this case, the pigs and raccoons reverted back to their innate behaviors of rooting and rubbing, respectively, instead of continuing to pick up the oversized coins.

Question 12

Which of the following can explain why it is easier to condition an animal to perform a natural behavior than a less natural one?

Accepted Answer

All the choices provided explain why it is easier to condition an animal to perform a natural behavior than a less natural one, as they all relate to the inherent tendencies and biological instincts of animals that influence their learning and behavior.

Question 13

The Yerkes-Dodson law is related to which of the following theories of motivation?

Accepted Answer

The Yerkes-Dodson law states that there is an optimal level of arousal for performance, and too little or too much arousal will decrease performance. This idea is related to arousal theory, which suggests that people are motivated to seek an optimal level of arousal or alertness.

Question 14

Which of the following experimental studies described in your textbook provided evidence of the limiting effects of biological predispositions on learning?

Accepted Answer

Breland's animal training studies with pigs and raccoons provided evidence of the limiting effects of biological predispositions on learning. The animals showed a strong tendency to revert back to their natural behaviors even after extensive training, indicating that biological predispositions play a significant role in determining behavior. Bandura's Bobo doll studies and Watson and Rayner's "Little Albert" study both focused on the effects of environmental factors on behavior, rather than biological predispositions.

Question 15

Which term does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

The other terms refer to concepts in behaviorism and social psychology, while biological preparedness is a concept within evolutionary psychology that suggests that certain behaviors are more easily learned because they are adaptive from an evolutionary perspective.

Question 16

Which term does NOT belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

The other terms are all related to social learning theory and Bandura's research on observational learning, but "instinctual drift" refers to a phenomenon observed in animal behavior where learned behaviors gradually revert back to innate, instinctual behaviors over time.

Question 17

In Garcia and Koelling's experiments with rats, the rats were actually sickened by _____ but associated the sickness with _____.

Accepted Answer

In Garcia and Koelling's experiments, rats were sickened by radiation but associated the sickness with the water in the experimental cages, demonstrating how taste aversion can be learned.

Question 18

Which of the following responses to the pleasure Justin receives from playing the violin would MOST likely produce the overjustification effect?

Accepted Answer

The overjustification effect occurs when an individual's intrinsic motivation for a behavior is undermined by an external reward. In this case, entering Justin in a competition with the possibility of winning a prize can shift his focus from the enjoyment of playing the violin to the extrinsic goal of winning a reward. This can decrease Justin's intrinsic motivation for playing the violin and ultimately result in the overjustification effect. Scheduling a concert or increasing his lessons may enhance his intrinsic motivation and love for playing the violin without solely emphasizing external rewards. Therefore, C is the best choice.

Question 19

By using food as a reinforcement, the Brelands trained pigs to pick up large coins and put them in a "bank." However, rather than picking up the coins, the pigs began pushing the coins with their snouts, illustrating _____ that is related to _____.

Accepted Answer

The behavior of the pigs pushing the coins with their snouts instead of picking them up illustrates instinctual drift, which is the tendency for learned behavior to drift towards instinctual behavior. This is related to biological preparedness, as the pigs' natural rooting behavior with their snouts is more instinctual and therefore more likely to occur in response to the task of moving objects.

Question 20

Tolman's research on maze running in rats demonstrates _____.

Accepted Answer

Tolman's research on maze running in rats is a classic example of latent learning, where the rats learned the layout of the maze without any immediate reinforcement, demonstrating that learning can occur without direct reinforcement or rewards.

Quiz 4: Section 2: Learning

According to arousal theory, which of the following BEST describes how arousal influences performance?

"Instinctual drift" is the answer to which question?

Gail is taking psychology because it is a required course for her major, most directly suggesting that her motivation for taking the course is _____.

It is easier for humans to develop a fear of snakes than to develop a fear of flowers, which BEST illustrates _____.

Darren has been moving into his new dorm all day and is exhausted and hungry. He decides to spend the evening eating pizza while watching a video. Which of the following theories BEST explains Darren's behaviors this evening?

Henry really liked to practice playing the guitar, but when his mother started rewarding him for doing so, he spent less time practicing. Henry's reduced interest in practicing MOST directly illustrates which of the following?

Wilcoxon et al. (1971) demonstrated the importance of biological predispositions for learning when their research revealed that after being made ill from drinking blue, sour-tasting water, _____.

Carlton attends class regularly to avoid losing class participation points, an example of _ motivation. Clarissa attends class regularly because she enjoys the activities, an example of _ motivation.

_ is to internal motivation as _ is to external motivation.

The Brelands' inability to successfully use operant conditioning to train pigs and raccoons to maintain their ability to pick up oversized coins is BEST explained by _____.

Which of the following can explain why it is easier to condition an animal to perform a natural behavior than a less natural one?

The Yerkes-Dodson law is related to which of the following theories of motivation?

Which of the following experimental studies described in your textbook provided evidence of the limiting effects of biological predispositions on learning?

Which term does NOT belong with the others?

Which term does NOT belong with the others?

In Garcia and Koelling's experiments with rats, the rats were actually sickened by _ but associated the sickness with _.

Which of the following responses to the pleasure Justin receives from playing the violin would MOST likely produce the overjustification effect?

By using food as a reinforcement, the Brelands trained pigs to pick up large coins and put them in a "bank." However, rather than picking up the coins, the pigs began pushing the coins with their snouts, illustrating _ that is related to _.

Tolman's research on maze running in rats demonstrates _____.