Question 1

Punishment occurs every day in families, schools, and workplaces. But often the intended results fail to occur. Explain, in detail, six reasons why punishment fails. When punishment must be used, what guidelines should be followed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Punishment occurs every day in families, schools,...

Question 2

Gerald has recently moved to the big city and takes the bus to work each day. One day he borrows a friend's car and drives in the city for the first time. Gerald has no problem finding his way to work because he has learned the route through:
A) latent learning.
B) classical conditioning.
C) operant conditioning.
D) counterconditioning.

Accepted Answer

Latent learning refers to learning that is not immediately expressed through behavior but can be demonstrated later when reinforcement is provided. In this case, Gerald was able to navigate through the city because he had learned the route through previous experiences of taking the bus, which is an example of latent learning. Choice B, classical conditioning, and choice C, operant conditioning, are not relevant in this scenario as they involve the association between a stimulus and a response or the consequences of a behavior. Choice D, counterconditioning, is also not applicable as it involves replacing an undesirable response with a desirable one through conditioning techniques.

Question 3

Psychologists have taken advantage of the "Garcia effect" in order to develop humane ways of discouraging predators from preying on livestock. Explain this effect and then describe the classic study in which coyotes developed conditioned aversions to sheep.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Psychologists have taken advantage of the "Garcia...

Question 4

Using reinforcers to change behaviour can sometimes create complications. Explain some of the misuses of rewards and reasons why rewards can backfire.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using reinforcers to change behaviour can sometimes...

Question 5

Learning is one of the mechanisms by which an animal can adapt its behaviour to its environment. For example, you learned in Chapter 7, Learning and Conditioning, that classical conditioning allows animals to prepare for biologically important events. In Chapter 3, Genes, Evolution, and Environment, you learned about how natural selection is another mechanism of adaptation. Compare and contrast learning and natural selection as mechanisms of adaptation. Include in your answer a specific example of how both mechanisms might affect an organism's behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Learning is one of the mechanisms by...

Question 6

Principles of operant conditioning have been used to help explain why people get attached to "lucky" hats, charms, and rituals. Using these principles, explain how an athlete might show this type of behaviour. How did Skinner demonstrate the phenomenon of superstitious behaviour with eight pigeons in his laboratory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Principles of operant conditioning have been used...

Question 7

In classical conditioning procedures, it is sometimes possible for higher-order conditioning to occur. Describe the research on higher-order conditioning in which slugs were the research subjects.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In classical conditioning procedures, it is sometimes...

Question 8

Your heart races every time you hear the phone ring because recently you received some distressing news over the phone. One way to eliminate this fearful response to the ringing phone would be to:
A) listen to the phone ring over and over for a whole day.
B) get rid of the phone.
C) change the sound of the phone ringing.
D) have the phone flash a light instead of ring.

Accepted Answer

Repeated exposure to the phone ringing without any distressing news following it can help desensitize you to the sound, reducing the fearful response through a process known as extinction.

Question 9

Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat to play basketball. She could wait until she was old and grey, however, before she could reinforce the rat for playing basketball! What conditioning procedure does Dr. Sardonicus need to use? Outline, step by step, what she can do to meet her goal.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat...

Question 10

Justin missed his curfew last night and, as a result, his mother has taken away his cell phone for the week. This is an example of:
A) positive punishment.
B) negative punishment.
C) positive reinforcement.
D) negative reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment involves the removal of a desired stimulus following a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. In this scenario, Justin's cell phone is taken away (a desired stimulus) to decrease the likelihood of him missing his curfew again in the future.

Question 11

In Chapter 6, we learned that some taste preferences (such as a liking for sweets) are universal-a part of our evolutionary heritage. Others are a matter of culture. When Thurston attends a dinner at a Japanese restaurant, he is fascinated as the chef prepares the food on a grill in front of him. When the appetizers are served, Thurston enjoys the raw oysters, but he cannot imagine eating the raw sea urchins and raw octopus that his friends are savouring. Use learning theory to explain the differences between Thurston's taste in foods and that of his friends.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Chapter 6, we learned that some...

Question 12

What is the difference between the traditional Pavlovian approach and the contemporary view on what is actually learned in classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between the traditional...

Question 13

In the first chapter of the textbook, What Is Psychology?, one of the critical thinking guidelines we learned about was to consider other interpretations. Before settling on one interpretation of the evidence, critical thinkers generate as many interpretations as possible. For example, an athlete wears a new pair of socks and then surpasses her own record for the number of baskets made during a game. Her socks become "lucky" and she makes sure to wear them for each basketball game. What type of reinforcement (from Chapter 7, Learning and Conditioning) explains the fact that she clings to her socks as a lucky charm? What other interpretations should she consider?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the first chapter of the textbook,...

Quiz 7: Learning and Conditioning

Punishment occurs every day in families, schools, and workplaces. But often the intended results fail to occur. Explain, in detail, six reasons why punishment fails. When punishment must be used, what guidelines should be followed?

Gerald has recently moved to the big city and takes the bus to work each day. One day he borrows a friend's car and drives in the city for the first time. Gerald has no problem finding his way to work because he has learned the route through:

Psychologists have taken advantage of the "Garcia effect" in order to develop humane ways of discouraging predators from preying on livestock. Explain this effect and then describe the classic study in which coyotes developed conditioned aversions to sheep.

Using reinforcers to change behaviour can sometimes create complications. Explain some of the misuses of rewards and reasons why rewards can backfire.

In classical conditioning procedures, it is sometimes possible for higher-order conditioning to occur. Describe the research on higher-order conditioning in which slugs were the research subjects.

Your heart races every time you hear the phone ring because recently you received some distressing news over the phone. One way to eliminate this fearful response to the ringing phone would be to:

Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat to play basketball. She could wait until she was old and grey, however, before she could reinforce the rat for playing basketball! What conditioning procedure does Dr. Sardonicus need to use? Outline, step by step, what she can do to meet her goal.

Justin missed his curfew last night and, as a result, his mother has taken away his cell phone for the week. This is an example of:

What is the difference between the traditional Pavlovian approach and the contemporary view on what is actually learned in classical conditioning?