Question 1

Every time Leo opens his cigarette case or uses his lighter, he gets a painful electric shock. Leo's friends and family have been asked not to give him any cigarettes or light any cigarettes for him, so he must use his own lighter if he wants to smoke. Eventually, Leo loses his desire to smoke, thanks to __________.

Accepted Answer

Leo is experiencing an aversive conditioning where the unpleasant electric shock he receives every time he opens the cigarette case or uses a lighter has become associated with smoking. This has caused him to lose his desire to smoke.

Question 2

Which of the following techniques would be MOST appropriate for reduction of smoking?

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy is the most appropriate technique for reducing smoking because it involves pairing smoking with an unpleasant stimulus (such as a nausea-inducing drug or an unpleasant odor) in order to create an association between smoking and feeling sick. This can help to reduce the desire to smoke by making smoking less pleasurable and more aversive. Flooding, systematic desensitization, and token economy are not appropriate techniques for reducing smoking.

Question 3

The process of learning through the observation and imitation of others is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The process of learning through the observation and imitation of others is called modeling. This can occur consciously or unconsciously, and can involve learning new behaviors, attitudes, or values from those around us.

Question 4

Andrew is so afraid of germs that he wears gloves when opening doors. He is encouraged by his therapist to imitate a person in a video who demonstrates opening a door, step-by-step, without wearing gloves. Which technique is Andrew's therapist using?

Accepted Answer

Andrew's therapist is using participant modeling, which involves encouraging the person to imitate a model who demonstrates the desired behavior. In this case, the model is opening doors without wearing gloves, which is the behavior Andrew's therapist wants him to adopt instead of his fear-based behavior. Systematic desensitization is a type of therapy that gradually exposes a person to a fear or phobia in a controlled setting, token economy involves reinforcing positive behavior with tokens, and extinction is a method of reducing a behavior by no longer reinforcing it.

Question 5

A client at a psychiatric hospital is rewarded for improved grooming habits with coupons he can exchange for special foods or weekend passes. This technique is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

The technique described is a token economy, where desired behaviors are rewarded with tokens that can later be exchanged for desired items or privileges. A token economy is a form of positive reinforcement. Modeling is observing and imitating behavior of others, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior, and systematic desensitization is a form of exposure therapy used to reduce anxiety. None of these other options relate directly to the use of coupons in a token economy.

Question 6

__________ strengthens a response by following it with the removal of an unpleasant stimulus.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of negative reinforcement. It involves removing an unpleasant stimulus in response to a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future.

Question 7

Which of the following is an advantage of using operant conditioning in treating undesirable behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning allows for a systematic and efficient approach to changing behavior, which means that results are often obtained more quickly than with other therapy methods.

Question 8

At Bentley Elementary School, teachers pass out "Bentley bucks" to students who turn in papers on time, obey the teacher, and finish their homework. The paper "bucks" can be traded in at the end of the week for special treats or game-playing time on the classroom computer. This system most resembles a __________.

Accepted Answer

This system resembles a token economy because students earn paper "bucks" for exhibiting desired behaviors, which can then be exchanged for rewards or privileges.

Question 9

Every time Brooklyn cleans her room properly and makes the bed, she receives a marble. When she accumulates 100 marbles, she can get the new video game she wants. What type of behavioral program are Brooklyn's parents using?

Accepted Answer

Brooklyn's parents are using a token economy by rewarding her with marbles for cleaning her room and making her bed properly. The accumulation of marbles serves as a token which can later be exchanged for the new video game she wants. This is a form of positive reinforcement where desired behavior is rewarded to increase the likelihood of it being repeated in the future.

Question 10

The strengthening of a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence or removing an unpleasant stimulus is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The strengthening of a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence or removing an unpleasant stimulus is known as reinforcement.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding contingency contracts when used effectively with children?

Accepted Answer

Contingency contracts, when used effectively with children, must emphasize consistency in the use of reinforcements and punishments. This means that rewards or consequences must be consistently applied based on the agreed-upon terms of the contract. This consistency helps children understand the consequences of their behavior and reinforces desired behaviors. It also helps to avoid confusion or misunderstandings about what is expected of the child.

Question 12

Omar has learned to seek attention by engaging in inappropriate behaviors, namely by watching his brother receive attention for hitting and biting and then imitating his behavior. Omar has learned to seek attention by engaging in inappropriate behaviors by using which of the following techniques?

Accepted Answer

Omar has learned to seek attention by observing and imitating his brother's behavior, a process known as modeling. Reinforcement refers to the process of rewarding a behavior to increase the likelihood of its occurrence, while token economy is a system of rewards and punishments used to shape behavior. Extinction is a process of withholding reinforcement to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Question 13

The use of objects that can be traded for food, candy, treats, or special privileges, with the purpose of reinforcing behavior, is called a __________.

Accepted Answer

A token economy is a behavioral strategy that has been used to reinforce positive behavior. In this strategy, participants receive tokens, stickers, or other objects as a reward for meeting specific behavioral goals. They can then trade these tokens for rewards such as food, candy, privileges, or other desirable items. The purpose of this strategy is to reinforce positive behavior and encourage participants to continue engaging in that behavior. The other options (A, B, and C) are not related to this strategy.

Question 14

Rory is afraid of cats. To help her overcome her fear, her mother calmly pets and strokes a cat while Rory is watching. Her mother encourages her to imitate her behavior. Rory's mother is using __________.

Accepted Answer

Rory's mother is using modeling, which is a technique of learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others. In this case, Rory is encouraged to imitate her mother's behavior of petting and stroking the cat, which can help her overcome her fear of cats. Reinforcement, token economy, and extinction are not being utilized in this situation.

Question 15

A __________ is a method of reinforcement that uses a formal written agreement in which the goals for behavioral change, reinforcements, and penalties are clearly stated.

Accepted Answer

A contingency contract is a written agreement that outlines specific goals for behavioral change, the reinforcements for achieving those goals, and the penalties for failing to meet them. This method of reinforcement is often used in counseling and therapy settings to help clients make positive changes in their behavior. The other choices (B) transactional analysis, (C) reciprocal inhibition, and (D) token economy are not related to written agreements for behavioral change.

Question 16

Which technique removes a reinforcer to reduce the frequency of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the technique that removes the reinforcer, which reduces the frequency of the behavior. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement both aim to increase the frequency of a behavior by adding a reinforcer or removing an aversive stimulus, respectively. Systematic desensitization is a technique used to reduce anxiety or phobias through gradual exposure to the feared stimulus while practicing relaxation techniques.

Question 17

__________ strengthens a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement involves strengthening a response by providing a pleasurable consequence, such as giving a reward or praise. This increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future. Punishment, on the other hand, weakens a response by following it with an unpleasant consequence. Negative reinforcement strengthens a response by removing an unpleasant consequence when a desired behavior is performed. Extinction involves weakening a response by withholding reinforcement.

Question 18

Dalton goes to a therapist for help in losing weight. He and his therapist develop a written agreement spelling out weekly step-by-step methods for Dalton to use in order to reach his weight goal. The plan specifies rewards for reaching weekly goals and penalties for not achieving them. Dalton's therapist is using which of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

Dalton's therapist is using a contingency contract, which is a behavioral intervention that specifies the relationship between a specific behavior and the consequences for that behavior. In this case, the contract spells out Dalton's weekly goals and the rewards and penalties for achieving or not achieving them. Classical conditioning involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring reflex, such as Pavlov's dog salivating at the sound of a bell. Desensitization is a type of exposure therapy used to treat phobias or anxiety disorders. A token economy is a system of rewards and punishments in which tokens are earned for desirable behaviors and can be exchanged for privileges or tangible rewards. While a contingency contract may involve rewards or punishments, it is different from a token economy in that the consequences directly follow specific behaviors, rather than being exchanged for tokens.

Question 19

Which of the following is a therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Token economy is a therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning, which involves the use of tokens (e.g. points, coins, stars) as a reward for desired behaviors. This helps to increase the frequency of those behaviors, while reducing the frequency of undesirable behaviors. Other options, such as systematic desensitization, flooding, and aversion therapy, are based on classical conditioning principles.

Question 20

The behavior of schizophrenic or depressed individuals living in psychiatric institutions has been successfully modified through the use of __________.

Accepted Answer

A token economy is a system of reinforcing desired behaviors with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards. This has been shown to be effective in modifying the behavior of individuals with mental illness in psychiatric institutions. It provides a way to positively reinforce desired behaviors and establish a clear system of rewards for those behaviors. Reality therapy and systematic desensitization are not typically used for modifying behavior in psychiatric institutions, and negative reinforcement (the removal of a negative consequence) may not be effective in all cases.

Quiz 15: Psychological Therapies