Deck 6: Learning

Question 1

A stimulus is any event or situation that

A)triggers imitation.
B)signals a reward.
C)elicits operant behavior.
D)evokes a response.

Answer 1

evokes a response.

Question 2

Learning specific behaviors simply by watching others perform them is known as

A)respondent behavior.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)observational learning.
D)operant conditioning.

Answer 2

observational learning.

Question 3

If a sea slug repeatedly receives an electric shock just after being squirted with water,its protective withdrawal response to a squirt of water grows stronger.This best illustrates

A)spontaneous recovery.
B)associative learning.
C)observational learning.
D)operant conditioning.

Answer 3

associative learning.

Question 4

Conditioning is the process of

A)discrimination.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)learning associations.
D)observational learning.

Question 5

The first experimental studies of associative learning were conducted by

A)John B.Watson.
B)Rosalie Rayner.
C)B.F.Skinner.
D)Ivan Pavlov.

Question 6

Classically conditioned habits are said to involve

A)observational learning.
B)respondent behavior.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)operant behavior.

Question 7

Jordan is frightened by the sound of a train whistle.The sound is a(n)

A)unconditioned response.
B)generalization.
C)acquisition.
D)stimulus.

Question 8

Respondent behavior is to ________ as operant behavior is to ________.

A)generalization;discrimination
B)associative learning;cognitive learning
C)unconditioned stimulus;conditioned stimulus
D)an automatic response;a behavior that produces consequences

Question 9

Voluntary behaviors that produce rewarding or punishing outcomes are called

A)respondent behaviors.
B)associative behaviors.
C)operant behaviors.
D)conditioned responses.

Question 10

Pets who learn that the sound of an electric can opener signals the arrival of their food illustrate

A)operant conditioning.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)classical conditioning.
D)observational learning.

Question 11

The type of learning in which one comes to associate two stimuli and thereby anticipate events is called

A)respondent behavior.
B)classical conditioning.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 12

Acquiring new habits best illustrates the process of

A)discrimination.
B)generalization.
C)learning.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 13

Carl so strongly associates watching baseball games with eating hot dogs that he habitually eats them while at the ballpark even when he's not hungry.His eating habit best illustrates the impact of

A)unconditioned responses.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)neutral stimuli.
D)learning.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a respondent behavior?

A)studying for a test
B)blushing when embarrassed
C)thanking someone for their help
D)sniffing to locate the source of a strange odor

Question 15

After one chimpanzee sees a second chimp open a box that contains a food reward,the first animal opens a similar box with great speed.This best illustrates

A)classical conditioning.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)respondent behavior.
D)observational learning.

Question 16

The acquisition of mental information by observing events,watching others,or through language is called

A)classical conditioning.
B)cognitive learning.
C)operant conditioning.
D)shaping.

Question 17

Respondent behavior is defined as a(n)________ response to some stimulus.

A)novel
B)operant
C)automatic
D)generalized

Question 18

When Henry's little brother accidentally locked himself inside his mother's car,Henry used his mother's car key to unlock the door.Henry's action could best be described as a(n)

A)unconditioned response.
B)respondent behavior.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)operant behavior.

Question 19

Children often learn to associate their pushing a vending machine button with the delivery of a candy bar.This best illustrates the process underlying

A)observational learning.
B)respondent behavior.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 20

Psychologists define learning as the process of

A)adapting to the environment.
B)responding to external stimuli.
C)rewarding behavioral responses.
D)acquiring,through experience,new information or relatively enduring behaviors.

Question 21

In Pavlov's experiments on the salivary conditioning of dogs,the US was

A)a tone.
B)salivation to the sound of a tone.
C)the presentation of food in the dog's mouth.
D)salivation to the food in the mouth.

Question 22

In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World,infants develop a fear of books after books are repeatedly presented with a loud noise.In this fictional example,the loud noise is a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus.
B)unconditioned response.
C)conditioned stimulus.
D)conditioned response.

Question 23

Male Japanese quail became sexually aroused by a red light that was repeatedly associated with the presentation of a female quail.The sexual arousal triggered by the red light was a

A)UR.
B)US.
C)CR.
D)CS.

Question 24

Before Pavlov conditioned a dog to salivate in response to a tone,the tone was a(n)

A)conditioned stimulus.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)partial conditioner.
D)neutral stimulus.

Question 25

The "psychic secretions" that Pavlov initially considered an annoyance were

A)unconditioned responses.
B)unconditioned stimuli.
C)conditioned responses.
D)conditioned stimuli.

Question 26

A child's learned fear at the sight of a hypodermic needle is a(n)

A)conditioned response.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)conditioned stimulus.
D)unconditioned response.

Question 27

A dog salivates to the sound of a tone because the tone has regularly been associated with the delivery of food.In this case,the tone is called a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus.
B)primary stimulus.
C)conditioned stimulus.
D)neutral stimulus.

Question 28

In Pavlov's experiments,the sound of the tone triggered the dog's salivation.Salivation to the sound of a tone was a(n)

A)conditioned response.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)unconditioned response.
D)conditioned stimulus.

Question 29

Which of the following is an unconditioned response?

A)playing jump rope
B)running through a maze to get a food reward
C)sweating in hot weather
D)clapping after a thrilling concert performance

Question 30

Which researcher first realized that certain "psychic secretions" pointed to a simple but important form of learning?

A)B.F.Skinner
B)Rosalie Rayner
C)John B.Watson
D)Ivan Pavlov

Question 31

A real estate agent showed Gavin several pictures of lakeshore property while they were eating a delicious,mouth-watering meal.Later,when Gavin was given a tour of the property,he drooled with delight.For Gavin,the lakeshore property was a

A)US.
B)CS.
C)UR.
D)CR.

Question 32

Researchers condition a flatworm to contract its body to a light by repeatedly pairing the light with electric shock.The stage in which the flatworm's contraction response to light is first established and gradually strengthened is called

A)discrimination.
B)acquisition.
C)generalization.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 33

In classical conditioning,the NS becomes a ________ after it reliably signals the upcoming appearance of the ________.

A)US;CS
B)UR;CR
C)CS;US
D)CR;UR

Question 34

An experimenter plans to condition a dog to salivate to a light by pairing the light with food.The dog will learn to salivate to the light most quickly if the experimenter presents the light

A)five seconds before the food.
B)half a second before the food.
C)at precisely the same time as the food.
D)half a second after the food.

Question 35

Before learning painfully that the sound of a buzzing bee signaled she was about to be stung,Sara felt no fear in response to the buzzing sound.At that time,the sound of the buzzing bee was most clearly a(n)

A)conditioned stimulus.
B)neutral stimulus.
C)conditioned response.
D)unconditioned stimulus.

Question 36

In Pavlov's experiments,the taste of food triggered the dog's salivation.Salivation to the taste of food was a(n)

A)conditioned response.
B)unconditioned response.
C)unconditioned stimulus.
D)conditioned stimulus.

Question 37

Three-year-old Jonathan saw fireworks that were repeatedly followed by loud,fear-producing explosive sounds.The mere sight of fireworks first began to trigger a learned fear reaction in Jonathan during the process of

A)spontaneous recovery.
B)extinction.
C)discrimination.
D)acquisition.

Question 38

Last year,Dr.Moritano cleaned Natacha's skin with rubbing alcohol prior to administering each of a series of rabies vaccination shots.Which of the following processes accounts for the fact that Natacha currently becomes fearful every time she smells rubbing alcohol?

A)cognitive learning
B)classical conditioning
C)observational learning
D)operant conditioning

Question 39

In classical conditioning,a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning is called a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus.
B)primary stimulus.
C)neutral stimulus.
D)secondary stimulus.

Question 40

In classical conditioning,the conditioned stimulus signals that ________ is about to occur.

A)a neutral stimulus
B)generalization
C)an unconditioned stimulus
D)operant behavior

Question 41

To assess whether Mrs.Webster had suffered a brain injury,researchers conditioned her to blink in response to a sound that signaled the delivery of a puff of air directed toward her face.In this application of classical conditioning,the sound was a

A)US.
B)UR.
C)CS.
D)CR.

Question 42

Two-year-old Philip was recently clawed by the neighbor's cat.Philip now fears all small animals.His fear demonstrates the process of

A)generalization.
B)operant conditioning.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)extinction.

Question 43

Classical conditioning is most clearly biologically adaptive because it enables us to learn that a ________ predicts the onset of a _________.

A)US;UR
B)US;CS
C)UR;CR
D)CS;US

Question 44

Monica's psychotherapist reminds her so much of her father that she has many of the same mixed emotional reactions to him that she has to her dad.Her reactions to her therapist best illustrate the influence of

A)spontaneous recovery.
B)discrimination.
C)an unconditioned response.
D)generalization.

Question 45

Jacqueline is sexually aroused by the sight of her handsome boyfriend but not by the sight of her equally handsome brother.This best illustrates the value of

A)operant behavior.
B)extinction.
C)discrimination.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 46

An odor is most likely to trigger sexual arousal if presented shortly

A)after an appropriate UR.
B)after an appropriate US.
C)before an appropriate UR.
D)before an appropriate US.

Question 47

The ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus is called

A)acquisition.
B)discrimination.
C)generalization.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 48

In classical conditioning,generalization refers to the tendency for the conditioned response to be evoked by stimuli that are similar to the

A)unconditioned stimulus.
B)respondent behavior.
C)conditioned stimulus.
D)unconditioned response.

Question 49

Your heart may race when you are confronted by a lion but not when you are approached by a kitten.This best illustrates the adaptive value of

A)operant behavior.
B)discrimination.
C)observational learning.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 50

After a scary biking accident,Alex extinguished his conditioned fear of bikes by cycling on a safe biking trail every day for a week.The reappearance of his previously extinguished fear when he rode a bike on the same trail two weeks later best illustrates

A)discrimination.
B)operant behavior.
C)generalization.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 51

The reappearance,after a time lapse,of an extinguished CR is called

A)generalization.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)discrimination.
D)secondary conditioning.

Question 52

Just after they taste a sweet liquid,mice are injected with a drug that produces a nausea response.Later,the taste of the sweet liquid by itself triggers a nausea response.This best illustrates

A)operant conditioning.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)classical conditioning.
D)observational learning.

Question 53

The occurrence of spontaneous recovery suggests that during extinction

A)the CS is eliminated.
B)the CR is eliminated.
C)the CS is suppressed.
D)the CR is suppressed.

Question 54

Compared with nonabused children,abused children show a stronger and longer-lasting brain-wave response to an angry face.This best illustrates

A)operant behavior.
B)generalization.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)discrimination.

Question 55

Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning were most clearly valuable because they provided the young discipline of psychology with a model of

A)animal consciousness.
B)scientific methodology.
C)cognitive processes.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 56

Because of the discomfort and embarrassment associated with his childhood bed-wetting,Andrew becomes nervous whenever he senses an urge to urinate.If genital arousal subsequently makes Andrew unusually anxious,this would best illustrate

A)observational learning.
B)generalization.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)an unconditioned response.

Question 57

Pavlov's research on classical conditioning was important because

A)it highlighted the role of cognitive processes in learning.
B)so many different species of animals,including humans,can be classically conditioned.
C)it demonstrated an essential difference between animal and human learning.
D)all learning depends on respondent behavior.

Question 58

After Jimmy was bitten by a dog,he became afraid of all dogs.He has since been exposed to many tame dogs in safe settings,and his fear of dogs has gradually faded.Jimmy's diminishing fear of dogs best illustrates

A)operant behavior.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)extinction.
D)acquisition.

Question 59

Extinction occurs when a ________ is no longer paired with a ________.

A)UR;CR
B)CS;UR
C)US;UR
D)CS;US

Question 60

Dogs conditioned to salivate when rubbed on their thigh also begin to salivate when rubbed on their back or stomach.This best illustrates

A)spontaneous recovery.
B)an unconditioned response.
C)an operant behavior.
D)generalization.

Question 61

A Skinner box is a(n)

A)aversive or punishing event that decreases the occurrence of certain undesirable behaviors.
B)"slot machine" used to study the effects of partial reinforcement on human gambling practices.
C)chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a reward.
D)television projection device designed for use in laboratory studies of operant conditioning.

Question 62

B.F.Skinner's work elaborated what E.L.Thorndike had called

A)shaping.
B)conditioned reinforcement.
C)the law of effect.
D)resistance to extinction.

Question 63

Shaping is a procedure in which reinforcers are

A)designed to evoke respondent behavior.
B)interspersed with punishers to speed the process of learning.
C)used to guide actions closer and closer to a desired behavior.
D)given on a variable-ratio schedule.

Question 64

After he was spanked on several occasions for spilling his milk at a restaurant,Colin became afraid to go to the restaurant.In this case,spanking was a(n)________ for Colin's fear.

A)unconditional response
B)conditioned stimulus
C)secondary conditioner
D)unconditioned stimulus

Question 65

Megan's profane language increases in frequency when it leads to her friend's approving laughter but decreases in frequency when it leads to her parent's criticism.This best illustrates

A)respondent behavior.
B)the law of effect.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)shaping.

Question 66

Learning to associate two stimuli is to ________ as learning to associate one's behavior with its consequences is to ________.

A)shaping;reinforcement
B)generalization;discrimination
C)extrinsic motivation;extrinsic motivation
D)classical conditioning;operant conditioning

Question 67

Researchers are studying how rapidly a hungry pigeon in a confined cage will learn to peck at a lighted disk in order to receive food.The researchers are most clearly using a(n)________ to study learning.

A)Pavlovian maze
B)conditioned reinforcer
C)operant chamber
D)variable-ratio schedule

Question 68

In which form of learning is behavior influenced by its consequences?

A)primary conditioning
B)classical conditioning
C)operant conditioning
D)delayed conditioning

Question 69

Comedian-writer Mark Malkoff reported that his fear of flying faded after he faced his fear and lived on an airplane for 30 days.His reduction of fear best illustrated the process of

A)operant conditioning.
B)extinction.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)generalization.

Question 70

An event that strengthens the behavior it follows is a(n)

A)conditioned stimulus.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)reinforcement.
D)operant behavior.

Question 71

Laurie's thumbsucking has become habitual because she feels less anxious when she sucks her thumb.This best illustrates the process of

A)generalization.
B)classical conditioning.
C)discrimination.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 72

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely,and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.This principle is called

A)discrimination.
B)intermittent reinforcement.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)the law of effect.

Question 73

A type of learning in which behavior is diminished if followed by a punisher is called

A)delayed conditioning.
B)classical conditioning.
C)secondary conditioning.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 74

After learning to fear a white rat,Little Albert responded with fear to the sight of a rabbit.This best illustrates the process of

A)observational learning.
B)generalization.
C)operant conditioning.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 75

Shaping is a(n)________ procedure.

A)spontaneous recovery
B)operant conditioning
C)classical conditioning
D)positive punishment

Question 76

If bears find insects after they move decaying logs,they more frequently move decaying logs.This most clearly indicates that finding insects is a

A)reinforcement.
B)respondent behavior.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)classically conditioned habit.

Question 77

Pigeons have been trained to correctly spot breast tumors by means of

A)classical conditioning.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)operant conditioning.
D)modeling.

Question 78

Classical conditioning is to ________ as operant conditioning is to ________.

A)unconditioned stimulus;unconditioned response
B)respondent behavior;operant behavior
C)generalization;discrimination
D)associative learning;cognitive learning

Question 79

Voluntary behaviors that become more frequent when followed by reinforcers are called

A)associative behaviors.
B)respondent behaviors.
C)operant behaviors.
D)unconditioned responses.

Question 80

Watson and Rayner's study of Little Albert demonstrated how specific fears

A)can interfere with the process of learning.
B)can be extinguished.
C)are acquired through observational learning.
D)may be produced through classical conditioning.