Question 1

_____ is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently presenting something pleasing.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement is the process of increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring again by presenting a pleasant or rewarding stimuli after the behavior is exhibited. This can include things like praise, treats, or other forms of positive feedback.

Question 2

_____ behavior refers to learned,consequences-shaped behavior.

Accepted Answer

Operant behavior is learned through the consequences that follow it, such as reinforcement or punishment. Respondent behavior is a reflexive response to a stimulus, while effective behavior refers to behavior that achieves a desired outcome. Normative behavior is behavior that is considered normal or expected in a given culture or society. Extinct behavior refers to behavior that was once learned but has since been forgotten.

Question 3

Rose did not finish her homework by the 7:00 p.m.deadline given her,so she was barred from watching television for one week.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of punishment, because Rose's behavior (not finishing her homework) resulted in a negative consequence (being barred from watching television).

Question 4

Which of the following weaken behavior?

Accepted Answer

Punishment and extinction both weaken behavior. Punishment involves adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease the likelihood of a behavior, while extinction involves removing a previously reinforcing consequence to decrease the likelihood of a behavior. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement both strengthen behavior by adding or removing a pleasant consequence. Negative reinforcement and extinction both involve removing a consequence, but negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an unpleasant consequence. Therefore, B is the best choice as it includes two options that weaken behavior.

Question 5

Skinner's work became known as behaviorism because he dealt strictly with:

Accepted Answer

Skinner's work focused on observable behavior rather than inner states, attitudes, or non-performance criteria. The term "behaviorism" was coined to describe this emphasis on the objective study of behavior.

Question 6

According to Skinner,which of the following categories of behavior described a very small proportion of adult human behavior,such as shedding tears while peeling onions and reflexively withdrawing one's hand from a hot stove?

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that a very small proportion of adult human behavior fell into the category of respondent behavior, which includes reflexive or automatic responses to stimuli such as shedding tears while peeling onions or withdrawing one's hand from a hot stove. The majority of human behavior, according to Skinner, is operant behavior, which is influenced by the consequences of our actions. Cognitive dissonance and unobservable inner states are not categories of behavior, but rather psychological concepts. Learned behavior is a broad term that could apply to both respondent and operant behavior.

Question 7

Employees at Max Manufacturing strive to operate at a zero-defect level because each one of them gets publicly recognized for their individual and team accomplishments.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding desired behavior to increase the likelihood of it being repeated in the future. In this case, the public recognition serves as the reward for operating at a zero-defect level, which encourages employees to continue striving for perfection.

Question 8

Emma's mother praises her every time she draws a new picture in her drawing book.This motivates Emma to draw more and more new pictures in her book.Emma's mom is indulging in _____ reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Emma's mother praises her every time she draws a new picture, which is an example of continuous reinforcement, where a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs.

Question 9

When John makes sexist remarks to be humorous,Kathy and Ben ignore him and do not laugh at his jokes.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Extinction is where a behavior is no longer reinforced, resulting in a decrease in that behavior. In this scenario, John's sexist remarks are not being reinforced by Kathy and Ben laughing, so there is a decrease in that behavior.

Question 10

Skinner labeled unlearned reflexes or stimulus-response connections as _____ behavior.

Accepted Answer

Skinner distinguished between two types of behavior - respondent behavior (unlearned or reflexive) and operant behavior (learned through consequences). Therefore, unlearned reflexes or stimulus-response connections are labeled as respondent behavior.

Question 11

_____ is the process of weakening behavior through either the contingent presentation of something displeasing or the contingent withdrawal of something positive.

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is punishment, which involves weakening behavior through either the contingent presentation of something displeasing (positive punishment) or the contingent withdrawal of something positive (negative punishment). Extinction, on the other hand, involves the gradual disappearance of a behavior when it is no longer reinforced. Positive reinforcement involves increasing a behavior by adding a positive consequence, while negative reinforcement involves increasing a behavior by removing an aversive stimulus. Respondent behavior refers to the automatic response to a stimulus, such as a reflex.

Question 12

When a behavior is reinforced every time,it refers to:

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement occurs when a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs, leading to a high rate of response.

Question 13

Making behavior occur less often by ignoring or not reinforcing it is called:

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the process of making a behavior occur less often by ignoring or not reinforcing it. This means that the individual will eventually stop exhibiting the behavior because they are no longer receiving a reward or reinforcement for it. Punishment (A) involves adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior, positive reinforcement (B) involves adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior, and negative reinforcement (D) involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior. Shaping (E) is the process of gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired behavior.

Question 14

Skinner attached the label "operant behavior" to behavior that is learned when one "operates on" the environment to produce desired consequences.Some call this the _____ model.

Accepted Answer

The "response-stimulus" model is associated with operant behavior, where behavior is modified by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments, aligning with Skinner's theory.

Question 15

When a fixed number of responses must be emitted before reinforcement occurs,it refers to:

Accepted Answer

When a fixed number of responses must be emitted before reinforcement occurs, it is called fixed ratio reinforcement. This means that every time a certain number of responses is completed, reinforcement will be delivered. For example, a rat may have to press a lever 10 times before receiving a food pellet.

Question 16

Slot machines that pay off after a random number of lever pulls are an example of:

Accepted Answer

Slot machines that pay off after a random number of lever pulls are an example of variable ratio reinforcement, which is the reinforcement schedule where behavior is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. This is because the gambler does not know how many lever pulls are needed to receive a payout, which keeps them playing for longer periods of time.

Question 17

Employees at Studious Bookstore show up on time just to avoid the manager screaming at them.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (the manager's screaming) to increase the likelihood of a behavior (employees showing up on time).

Question 18

Which of the following strengthen behavior?

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement both strengthen behavior by increasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. Positive reinforcement involves presenting a reward or positive consequence after a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing or avoiding an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior. Both of these consequences increase the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Punishment and extinction, on the other hand, weaken behavior by decreasing the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future.

Question 19

A _____ reinforcement schedule is said to be followed when a random number of responses must be emitted before reinforcement occurs.

Accepted Answer

A variable ratio reinforcement schedule is followed when a random number of responses must be emitted before reinforcement occurs. In this schedule, the number of responses required for reinforcement varies randomly around an average value. This schedule is very effective in maintaining behavior because it produces a high and steady rate of responding.

Question 20

Which of the following strengthens a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing?

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing.

Quiz 8: Improving Performance With Feedback, Rewards, and Positive Reinforcement