Question 1

The first experimental studies of associative learning were conducted by

Accepted Answer

Ivan Pavlov is credited with conducting the first experimental studies of associative learning, particularly in his famous experiments involving dogs and conditioned reflexes.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Natacha's fear response to the smell of rubbing alcohol is a result of classical conditioning. The pairing of the rubbing alcohol (previously a neutral stimulus) with the pain of the vaccinations (an unconditioned stimulus) has created an association in Natacha's mind, causing the rubbing alcohol to become a conditioned stimulus that elicits fear.

Question 3

During extinction, the ________ is omitted; as a result, the ________ seems to disappear.

Accepted Answer

The answer of During extinction, the ________ is omitted; as...

Question 4

John B. Watson would have expressed the greatest disapproval of attempts to scientifically study whether

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson was a behaviorist who believed that only observable behavior could be studied scientifically, and that internal mental processes such as thoughts and feelings were beyond the realm of science. Therefore, attempting to study whether academic achievement is influenced by a positive self-concept, which involves internal mental processes, would go against Watson's beliefs.

Question 5

Conditioning is the process of

Accepted Answer

Conditioning is the process of learning associations between stimuli or between a stimulus and a response. Through conditioning, an organism can learn to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus, resulting in a changed response to the neutral stimulus.

Question 6

In Pavlov's studies of classical conditioning of a dog's salivary responses, spontaneous recovery occurred

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period and the reintroduction of the conditioned stimulus. In Pavlov's studies, this occurred when the CS was reintroduced following extinction of the CR and a rest period, therefore choice C is the correct answer.

Question 7

John B. Watson considered himself to be a(n)

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson is considered to be one of the founders of the behaviorist movement in psychology. He believed that psychology should only focus on the observable behaviors of individuals and not on their internal mental processes. Therefore, he cannot be considered a physiological psychologist or a psychoanalyst. While he did study cognition, this was not the primary focus of his work, so he cannot be considered a cognitive psychologist.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Cognitive learning refers to the acquisition of mental information through observation, language, or reasoning, as opposed to classical conditioning, partial reinforcement, or shaping which focus on behavioral learning.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of classical conditioning, which involves the association of a previously neutral stimulus (in this case, the squirt of water) with an unconditioned stimulus (the electric shock) that elicits a reflexive response (the protective withdrawal). As a result of repeated pairings of the two stimuli, the previously neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits the same response. This is referred to as associative learning.

Question 10

Acquiring new habits best illustrates the process of

Accepted Answer

Acquiring new habits involves the process of learning, which is the process of acquiring new knowledge or behavior through experience, practice, or study. Cognitive learning (A) specifically refers to the acquisition of new knowledge and understanding, while discrimination (B) refers to the ability to distinguish between different stimuli or responses. Spontaneous recovery (D) is the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of time without exposure to the conditioned stimulus, and is not directly related to acquiring new habits.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Respondent behavior is an automatic response to a specific stimulus, which in this case is blushing in response to being embarrassed. The other options are not examples of respondent behavior. Studying for a test is a learned behavior, thanking someone is an operant behavior while sniffing to locate the source of a strange odor is a reflexive behavior.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning involves learning through the consequences of behavior. In this case, pushing the vending machine button is a behavior that is followed by the consequence of receiving a candy bar, which reinforces the behavior and increases the likelihood of it being repeated in the future.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The sound of the train whistle is a stimulus, as it elicits a response (fear) from Jordan. Conditioned reinforcement refers to a previously neutral stimulus that has become reinforcing through its association with something else, such as a reward. Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction. Discrimination refers to the ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond differently to each. None of these concepts apply to Jordan's fear of the train whistle.

Question 14

Psychologists define learning as the process of

Accepted Answer

Learning is defined as the process of acquiring new information or relatively enduring behaviors. This can include changes in how an individual thinks, behaves, or responds to situations. Adapting to the environment, responding to external stimuli, and reinforcing behavioral responses can all be components of the learning process, but they are not all-encompassing definitions of learning.

Question 15

In classical conditioning a stimulus is any event or situation that

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, a stimulus is any event or situation that evokes a response. This response is typically reflexive and automatic, and is often triggered by a previously neutral stimulus that has become associated with a biologically meaningful stimulus.

Question 16

In which of the following may classical conditioning play a role?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning can play a role in emotional problems, such as phobias and anxiety disorders, as well as in the body's immune response, such as conditioned taste aversions. It can also be used as a tool to help drug addicts by pairing drug use with negative consequences to decrease the likelihood of continued use. Therefore, the best choice is D, as classical conditioning may play a role in all of these cases.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The scenario presented in the question best illustrates observational learning, which occurs when an individual learns by observing the behavior of others, in this case, one chimp learning from another. The first chimp sees the second chimp open the box and receive a food reward, and then quickly opens a similar box, indicating that it has learned the behavior through observation.

Question 18

In Watson and Rayner's experiment, the loud noise was the ________ and the white rat was the ________.

Accepted Answer

In Watson and Rayner's experiment, the loud noise was the unconditioned stimulus (US) and the white rat was the conditioned stimulus (CS).

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Pets learning to associate the sound of an electric can opener with the arrival of their food is an example of classical conditioning. The sound of the can opener is the conditioned stimulus, and the arrival of food is the unconditioned stimulus. Over time, the pets learn to associate the sound of the can opener with the arrival of food, and the sound alone elicits a conditioned response of anticipation and excitement.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's "psychic secretions" referred to the salivation of dogs in response to stimuli associated with food, which he later identified as conditioned responses.

Quiz 20: Basic Learning Concepts and Classical Conditioning