Question 1

After Little Albert acquired a conditioned fear of a rat, Watson and Rayner wanted to see how he would react to a rabbit, cotton wool, and a Santa Claus mask. They were studying whether or not _______________ had occurred.
A) extinction
B) stimulus generalization
C) counterconditioning
D) stimulus discrimination

Accepted Answer

Watson and Rayner wanted to test whether Little Albert's conditioned fear response would generalize to similar stimuli, such as a rabbit, cotton wool, and a Santa Claus mask. This is an example of stimulus generalization.

Question 2

In classical conditioning, ________ is the process of pairing a conditioned stimulus with a stimulus that elicits a response that is incompatible with an unwanted conditioned response.
A) extinction
B) stimulus discrimination
C) counterconditioning
D) stimulus generalization

Accepted Answer

Counterconditioning is a process of changing the previous association between a conditioned stimulus and an unwanted response by pairing it with a new unconditioned stimulus that elicits a response that is incompatible with the unwanted response. This process results in the formation of a new association between the conditioned stimulus and a new response.

Question 3

A variation of the counterconditioning procedure developed by Watson and Jones has been used to treat adult phobias. This variation is called:
A) positive reinforcement.
B) intermittent reinforcement.
C) systematic desensitization.
D) shaping.

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization involves gradual exposure to a feared object or situation while maintaining relaxation in order to overcome the phobia. It is a variation of the counterconditioning procedure developed by Watson and Jones, which involved pairing a feared object with a pleasant stimulus to eliminate the phobia. While positive reinforcement, intermittent reinforcement, and shaping are all principles of operant conditioning, they are not directly related to the treatment of phobias.

Question 4

Which of the following behaviorists is associated with operant conditioning?
A) John Watson
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) B. F. Skinner
D) John Garcia

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner is the behaviorist most closely associated with operant conditioning. He conducted experiments with animals in skinner boxes to demonstrate the effects of reinforcement and punishment on behavior. John Watson is associated with classical conditioning, Ivan Pavlov is the pioneer of classical conditioning, and John Garcia is most well-known for his research on taste aversion in rats.

Question 5

Which of the following is a secondary reinforcer?
A) food
B) pain
C) criticism
D) applause

Accepted Answer

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer. In this case, applause becomes reinforcing due to its association with a primary reinforcer, such as praise or recognition. Food is a primary reinforcer as it is naturally reinforcing, while pain and criticism are aversive stimuli and not reinforcing.

Question 6

Graham is a 5-year-old who has a conditioned fear of furry and hairy things. He is fond of a snack of milk and chocolate cookies and associates pleasant feelings with it. Psychologists pair a cat with the snack that Graham enjoys until his fear of the cat goes away. This is an example of ________.
A) counterconditioning
B) stimulus discrimination
C) instinctive drift
D) spontaneous recovery

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes counterconditioning, which is the process of replacing an unwanted response (fear of furry things) with a more desirable one (positive association with the snack). The cat is paired with the snack in order to create a new, positive association and counteract the fear response. Stimulus discrimination refers to the ability to distinguish between similar stimuli, instinctive drift refers to the tendency of animals to revert to instinctual behaviors, and spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of time. None of these concepts apply to the given scenario.

Question 7

Based on his observations of cats in puzzle boxes, Thorndike concluded that:
A) behavior modification does not work.
B) animals can learn from watching others model behavior.
C) behavior is controlled by its consequences.
D) there are biological limits to what behaviors an animal can learn.

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's observations led him to conclude that behavior is controlled by its consequences. He proposed the Law of Effect, which states that behaviors that are followed by rewarding consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future, while behaviors that are followed by punishing consequences are less likely to be repeated. This idea laid the foundation for behaviorism in psychology.

Question 8

Thorndike was known for his work with:
A) puzzle boxes.
B) modeling.
C) monkeys.
D) a Skinner box.

Accepted Answer

Thorndike is primarily known for his work with puzzle boxes, where he conducted experiments on animal learning and behavior.

Question 9

Which of the following statements reflects the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
A) In classical conditioning, the response is reflexive, but in operant conditioning it is typically more complex.
B) In classical conditioning, spontaneous recovery can occur, but in operant conditioning it doesn't.
C) In classical conditioning, the consequence of a response is important, but in operant conditioning it isn't.
D) In classical conditioning, both stimulus generalization and discrimination can occur, but in operant

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves the pairing of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a reflexive response. Operant conditioning involves the use of consequences to strengthen or weaken a behavior. The response in classical conditioning is typically a simple reflex, while in operant conditioning it is often a more complex behavior.

Question 10

Research discussed in your textbook suggests that a specific drug can speed up the extinction of a phobia (fear of heights) if taken during virtual reality treatments. This drug is believed to enhance a certain type of receptor in the _________.
A) frontal lobe
B) hypothalamus
C) amygdala
D) olfactory gland

Accepted Answer

The research suggests that the drug can speed up the extinction of a phobia by enhancing a certain type of receptor in the amygdala, which is the brain region responsible for fear and anxiety.

Question 11

The process by which a stimulus weakens the probability of the response that it follows is called ________.
A) negative reinforcement
B) punishment
C) higher-order conditioning
D) determinism

Accepted Answer

Punishment is the process by which a stimulus weakens the probability of the response that it follows. Negative reinforcement is the process by which a stimulus strengthens the probability of a response that it follows. Higher-order conditioning refers to a scenario where a conditioned stimulus is used to create a response to a new stimulus. Determinism refers to the idea that everything happens for a reason and that events are determined by previous events according to the laws of nature.

Question 12

The difference between a reinforcer and a punisher is that:
A) reinforcers are primary and punishers are secondary.
B) punishers are primary and reinforcers are secondary.
C) reinforcers strengthen behavior and punishers weaken behavior.
D) reinforcers are positive and punishers are negative.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between a reinforcer and a punisher is the effect they have on behavior. A reinforcer strengthens or increases behavior, while a punisher weakens or decreases behavior. This is why C is the correct answer, as it accurately reflects this key difference. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the difference between these two types of stimuli.

Question 13

Individuals being treated for cancer may develop nausea when they arrive at the place where they have been receiving chemotherapy. In this case, the conditioned stimulus is ________.
A) chemotherapy
B) nausea
C) the place where therapy takes place
D) avoidance by canceling the appointment

Accepted Answer

The conditioned stimulus (CS) is the place where therapy takes place. This is because the development of nausea in response to being in that place (even before receiving chemotherapy) shows that this place has become associated with nausea through classical conditioning. The unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is chemotherapy, which naturally causes nausea as an unlearned response. The conditioned response (CR) is the nausea that is now elicited by the previously neutral CS of the place where therapy takes place. Choice A (chemotherapy) and B (nausea) are incorrect because they are the UCS and CR respectively, and not the CS. Choice D (avoidance by canceling the appointment) is not a component of classical conditioning.

Question 14

Which of the following is a secondary punisher?
A) extreme heat
B) electric shock
C) criticism
D) starvation

Accepted Answer

A secondary punisher is a stimulus that has acquired its punishing properties through association with a primary punisher. Criticism is a secondary punisher because it is learned through association with a primary punisher such as physical punishment or social consequences. Extreme heat, electric shock, and starvation are all examples of primary punishers that have inherent punishing properties.

Question 15

The process by which a stimulus strengthens or increases the probability of the response that it follows is called ________.
A) higher-order conditioning
B) latent learning
C) counterconditioning
D) reinforcement

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is reinforcement. Reinforcement refers to the use of stimuli, such as rewards or punishments, to increase or decrease the likelihood of a response occurring.

Question 16

Which of the following is a secondary reinforcer?
A) light stroking of the skin
B) food
C) comfortable air temperature
D) money

Accepted Answer

Money is a secondary reinforcer because it gains its reinforcing properties through its association with primary reinforcers such as food or comfort. It has no inherent reinforcing value, but gains value through its ability to be exchanged for primary reinforcers or other desired items.

Question 17

_____________ reinforcement occurs when you escape from something unpleasant.
A) Positive
B) Negative
C) Neutral
D) Compound

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement refers to a situation where a behavior is reinforced by removing an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus. In this case, escaping from something unpleasant serves as a negative reinforcement as it increases the likelihood of repeating that behavior in the future.

Question 18

________ is the process by which a response becomes more likely to occur or less so, depending on its consequences.
A) Classical conditioning
B) Operant conditioning
C) Higher-order conditioning
D) Counterconditioning

Accepted Answer

The process by which a response becomes more or less likely to occur depending on its consequences is called operant conditioning. This involves learning through rewards and punishments. Classical conditioning involves learning through the association between two stimuli, higher-order conditioning involves using a previously conditioned stimulus to condition a new stimulus, and counterconditioning involves replacing an undesirable response with a desirable one.

Question 19

Individuals being treated for cancer may develop nausea when they arrive at the place where they have been receiving chemotherapy. In this case, the unconditioned stimulus is ________.
A) chemotherapy
B) nausea
C) the place where therapy takes place
D) the sound of the nurse's voice

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is the chemotherapy itself, as it is what is causing the physical reaction of nausea.

Question 20

Ayden is afraid of swings. To overcome this fear, his father places him on a swing and gives Ayden an ice pop to eat while gently pushing it. This is an example of ________.
A) latent learning
B) counterconditioning
C) spontaneous recovery
D) operant conditioning

Accepted Answer

This is an example of counterconditioning, where Ayden's fear of swings is paired with a positive stimulus (ice pop) and gradually the fear will decrease.

Quiz 7: Learning and Conditioning

After Little Albert acquired a conditioned fear of a rat, Watson and Rayner wanted to see how he would react to a rabbit, cotton wool, and a Santa Claus mask. They were studying whether or not _______________ had occurred.

In classical conditioning, ________ is the process of pairing a conditioned stimulus with a stimulus that elicits a response that is incompatible with an unwanted conditioned response.

A variation of the counterconditioning procedure developed by Watson and Jones has been used to treat adult phobias. This variation is called:

Which of the following behaviorists is associated with operant conditioning?

Which of the following is a secondary reinforcer?

Graham is a 5-year-old who has a conditioned fear of furry and hairy things. He is fond of a snack of milk and chocolate cookies and associates pleasant feelings with it. Psychologists pair a cat with the snack that Graham enjoys until his fear of the cat goes away. This is an example of ________.

Based on his observations of cats in puzzle boxes, Thorndike concluded that:

Thorndike was known for his work with:

Which of the following statements reflects the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

Research discussed in your textbook suggests that a specific drug can speed up the extinction of a phobia (fear of heights) if taken during virtual reality treatments. This drug is believed to enhance a certain type of receptor in the _________.

The process by which a stimulus weakens the probability of the response that it follows is called ________.

The difference between a reinforcer and a punisher is that:

Individuals being treated for cancer may develop nausea when they arrive at the place where they have been receiving chemotherapy. In this case, the conditioned stimulus is ________.

Which of the following is a secondary punisher?

The process by which a stimulus strengthens or increases the probability of the response that it follows is called ________.

Which of the following is a secondary reinforcer?

_____________ reinforcement occurs when you escape from something unpleasant.

________ is the process by which a response becomes more likely to occur or less so, depending on its consequences.

Individuals being treated for cancer may develop nausea when they arrive at the place where they have been receiving chemotherapy. In this case, the unconditioned stimulus is ________.

Ayden is afraid of swings. To overcome this fear, his father places him on a swing and gives Ayden an ice pop to eat while gently pushing it. This is an example of ________.