Question 1

The term _____ refers to the presentation of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment involves adding a stimulus after a behavior that decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Question 2

When I banged on the heating pipe, it stopped making a noise. The next time I heard that noise, I immediately banged on the pipe. This seems to be an example of

Accepted Answer

Banging on the pipe to stop the noise is an example of negative reinforcement because it involves removing an unpleasant stimulus (the noise) to increase the likelihood of the behavior (banging on the pipe) happening again.

Question 3

The term _____ refers to the removal of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment involves the removal of a stimulus following a behavior, which results in a decrease in the future frequency of that behavior. It's a way to decrease unwanted behaviors by taking away a positive stimulus.

Question 4

When Amir teased his sister, she hugged him. He never teased her again. Which of the following types of processes is illustrated in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment is illustrated in this scenario because the sister's response (hugging) to Amir's teasing is an added stimulus that resulted in decreasing the behavior (teasing). Positive punishment involves adding a stimulus after a behavior that decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

Question 5

A stimulus that can serve as a negative reinforcer can probably also serve as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A negative reinforcer is a stimulus that, when removed after a behavior, increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. A positive punisher is a stimulus that, when presented after a behavior, decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Both involve aversive stimuli, but in different contexts.

Question 6

Felix swore at his girlfriend during an argument one day, after which she would not talk to him for a week. As a result, he became much less likely to swear at her. This is best described as an example of

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment occurs when a behavior is decreased by removing a pleasant stimulus. In this case, Felix's girlfriend stopped talking to him (removing a pleasant stimulus) after he swore at her, which decreased the likelihood of him swearing at her again.

Question 7

A(n) _____ response occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and thereby prevents its delivery.

Accepted Answer

An avoidance response is an action taken to prevent the occurrence of an aversive stimulus, meaning the response occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented, thereby preventing its delivery.

Question 8

The term "negative punishment" refers to the _____ of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a(n) _____ in the future strength of that response.

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment involves the removal of a stimulus after a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Question 9

Raed swatted at a wasp and got stung. After that, he never swatted at a wasp again. This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment occurs when an undesirable outcome (in this case, getting stung) follows a behavior (swatting at a wasp), leading to a decrease in that behavior.

Question 10

Jim compliments his secretary on her new outfit when she offers to bring him coffee one morning. She never offers to bring him coffee again. Which of the following types of processes is illustrated in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Jim's compliment, following the secretary's offer to bring coffee, likely made her uncomfortable or was perceived negatively, leading her to stop the behavior. This is an example of positive punishment, where an added response (the compliment) decreases the likelihood of a behavior (offering coffee) occurring again. Positive punishment involves adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Question 11

The use of punishment can be quite enticing in that its delivery is often followed by _____ for the person to whom it was delivered.

Accepted Answer

Immediate negative reinforcement occurs because the person delivering the punishment often experiences a cessation of undesirable behavior from the person receiving it, which reinforces the use of punishment for the deliverer.

Question 12

"I'll do anything to avoid housework." This statement speaks to the power of

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior. In this case, the unpleasant stimulus is housework, and the behavior of avoiding it is increased.

Question 13

Miranda complains loudly every time her boyfriend watches sports. As a result of her complaining, he usually turns off the television. He feels like their relationship is strained, but she feels like things are really going her way. Regarding the use of punishment, what could you say about this example?

Accepted Answer

In this scenario, Miranda's complaining, which serves as a form of punishment for her boyfriend's behavior of watching sports, is negatively reinforced because it successfully leads to the cessation of the behavior she finds undesirable (him watching sports). This makes the complaining behavior more likely to occur in the future under similar circumstances. The relationship might indeed benefit from more positive interactions rather than relying on aversive tactics like complaining, indicating that a shift towards more pleasant interactions could improve the dynamic between them. Lastly, Miranda's boyfriend is experiencing punishment (Miranda's complaining) as a direct consequence of his action (watching sports), which is intended to decrease that behavior. Therefore, all the provided options accurately describe aspects of the situation.

Question 14

The term "negative reinforcement" refers to the _____ of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a(n) _____ in the future strength of that response.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus following a response, which then increases the likelihood of that response occurring again in the future.

Question 15

Putting on a heavy parka before going out into the cold is an example of a(n) _____ response, while putting it on after you go outside and feel cold is an example of a(n) _____ response.

Accepted Answer

Putting on a heavy parka before going out into the cold is an example of an avoidance response because you are taking action to prevent feeling cold. Putting it on after you go outside and feel cold is an example of an escape response because you are taking action to remove or reduce the discomfort of being cold.

Question 16

Melissa stayed out past her curfew and subsequently lost car privileges for a week. As a result, she never again stayed out past her curfew. This example best illustrates the process of

Accepted Answer

Melissa losing her car privileges (a negative consequence or removal of a privilege) for staying out past her curfew and then changing her behavior to avoid this consequence in the future is an example of negative punishment. Negative punishment involves the removal of a positive stimulus following an undesired behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Question 17

_____ behavior results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Escape behavior is specifically aimed at terminating an aversive stimulus once it has already started.

Question 18

Jamaal's mother tells him, "If you clean your room, you won't have to do the dishes." What type of contingency is she attempting to apply?

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (in this case, doing the dishes) to increase a desired behavior (cleaning the room).

Question 19

When Pedro punched his sister, she punched him back. He never punched her again. Which of the following types of processes is illustrated in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment occurs when an undesirable outcome (in this case, being punched back) follows an undesirable behavior (Pedro punching his sister), which decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

Question 20

The term "positive punishment" refers to the _____ of a stimulus following a response, which then leads to a(n) _____ in the future strength of that response.

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment involves the addition (presentation) of a stimulus following a behavior, which results in a decrease in the future frequency of that behavior.

Quiz 6: Operant Conditioning Introduction