Question 1

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 2

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions?
-Identify which of the following are commonly used as secondary reinforcers: coins spilling from a slot machine, a winner's blue ribbon, a piece of candy, an A on an exam, frequent-flyer miles.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of consequence will follow if...

Question 3

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations:
-After Jeff learns to fear spiders, he also responds with fear of ants, beetles, and other crawling bugs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of See whether you can supply the correct...

Question 4

Explain why extrinsic rewards can undermine the pleasure of doing something for its own sake.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why extrinsic rewards can undermine the...

Question 5

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 savoring. 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 6

Name the unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus, and conditioned response in these two situations:
 1. Five-year-old Emily is watching a storm from her window. A huge bolt of lightning is followed by a tremendous thunderclap, and Emily jumps at the noise. This happens several more times. There is a brief lull and then another lightning bolt. Emily jumps in response to the bolt.
 2. Gregory's mouth waters whenever he eats anything with lemon in it. One day, while reading an ad that shows a big glass of lemonade, Gregory finds that his mouth has started to water.
B. In the view of many learning theorists, pairing a neutral and unconditioned stimulus is not enough to produce classical conditioning; the neutral stimulus must __________ the unconditioned stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Name the unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned...

Question 7

Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat to play basketball. She could wait until she was old and gray, 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 8

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 9

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations:
-A factory worker's mouth waters whenever a noontime bell signals the beginning of his lunch break. One day, the bell goes haywire and rings every half hour. By the end of the day, the worker has stopped salivating to the bell.

Accepted Answer

The answer of See whether you can supply the correct...

Question 10

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 behavior. How did Skinner demonstrate the phenomenon of superstitious behavior with eight pigeons in his laboratory?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

In the first chapter of the textbook, What Is Psychology?, one of the critical thinking guidelines that we learned about was "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,...

Question 12

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 13

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations:
-Little Eryn is afraid of the bath, so her father puts just a little water in the tub and gives Eryn a lollipop to suck on while she is being washed. Soon Eryn loses her fear of the bath.

Accepted Answer

The answer of See whether you can supply the correct...

Question 14

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions?
-Brittany nags her father for a cookie; he keeps refusing. Finally, unable to stand the nagging any longer, he hands over the cookie. For him, silence from Brittany is a __________. For Brittany, the cookie is a __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of consequence will follow if...

Question 15

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions?
-Robert, who is not disabled, has paid a large fine for parking in a handicapped space, and no longer does it. The loss of money is a __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of consequence will follow if...

Question 16

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions?
-During late-afternoon "happy hours," bars and restaurants sell drinks at a reduced price and snacks are often free. What undesirable behavior may be rewarded by this practice?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kind of consequence will follow if...

Question 17

Learning is one of the mechanisms by which an animal can adapt its behavior 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 behavior.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Harry and Sally want their cat to jump through a hoop 3 feet off the ground. Because the cat would never spontaneously jump through the hoop on its own, what operant conditioning procedure will Harry and Sally need to use? Briefly explain how they might proceed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harry and Sally want their cat to...

Question 19

Using reinforcers to change behavior 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 behavior can sometimes...

Question 20

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...

Quiz 7: Learning and Conditioning

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.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Identify which of the following are commonly used as secondary reinforcers: coins spilling from a slot machine, a winner's blue ribbon, a piece of candy, an A on an exam, frequent-flyer miles.

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations: -After Jeff learns to fear spiders, he also responds with fear of ants, beetles, and other crawling bugs.

Explain why extrinsic rewards can undermine the pleasure of doing something for its own sake.

Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat to play basketball. She could wait until she was old and gray, 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.

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?

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.

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations: -Little Eryn is afraid of the bath, so her father puts just a little water in the tub and gives Eryn a lollipop to suck on while she is being washed. Soon Eryn loses her fear of the bath.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Brittany nags her father for a cookie; he keeps refusing. Finally, unable to stand the nagging any longer, he hands over the cookie. For him, silence from Brittany is a . For Brittany, the cookie is a .

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Robert, who is not disabled, has paid a large fine for parking in a handicapped space, and no longer does it. The loss of money is a __________.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -During late-afternoon "happy hours," bars and restaurants sell drinks at a reduced price and snacks are often free. What undesirable behavior may be rewarded by this practice?

Harry and Sally want their cat to jump through a hoop 3 feet off the ground. Because the cat would never spontaneously jump through the hoop on its own, what operant conditioning procedure will Harry and Sally need to use? Briefly explain how they might proceed.

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

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

Quiz 7: Learning and Conditioning

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.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Identify which of the following are commonly used as secondary reinforcers: coins spilling from a slot machine, a winner's blue ribbon, a piece of candy, an A on an exam, frequent-flyer miles.

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations: -After Jeff learns to fear spiders, he also responds with fear of ants, beetles, and other crawling bugs.

Explain why extrinsic rewards can undermine the pleasure of doing something for its own sake.

Dr. Sardonicus wants to train a rat to play basketball. She could wait until she was old and gray, 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.

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?

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.

See whether you can supply the correct term to describe the outcome in each of these situations: -Little Eryn is afraid of the bath, so her father puts just a little water in the tub and gives Eryn a lollipop to suck on while she is being washed. Soon Eryn loses her fear of the bath.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Brittany nags her father for a cookie; he keeps refusing. Finally, unable to stand the nagging any longer, he hands over the cookie. For him, silence from Brittany is a __________. For Brittany, the cookie is a __________.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Robert, who is not disabled, has paid a large fine for parking in a handicapped space, and no longer does it. The loss of money is a __________.

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -During late-afternoon "happy hours," bars and restaurants sell drinks at a reduced price and snacks are often free. What undesirable behavior may be rewarded by this practice?

Harry and Sally want their cat to jump through a hoop 3 feet off the ground. Because the cat would never spontaneously jump through the hoop on its own, what operant conditioning procedure will Harry and Sally need to use? Briefly explain how they might proceed.

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

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

What kind of consequence will follow if you can't answer these questions? -Brittany nags her father for a cookie; he keeps refusing. Finally, unable to stand the nagging any longer, he hands over the cookie. For him, silence from Brittany is a . For Brittany, the cookie is a .