In the first phase of training, a rat placed in an operant chamber receives shocks regardless of what it does. In the second phase of training the rat is placed on a running wheel and can avoid receiving a shock by moving the wheel one complete revolution. To the extent that the rat has difficulty learning that response, we could argue that generalized _______ decreases the subject's ability to learn the response-outcome contingency.
A) learned irrelevance
B) instrumental blocking
C) conditioned inhibition
D) response interference

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Learned irrelevance occurs when an organism learns that a stimulus is irrelevant because it does not predict any significant outcomes. In the scenario described, the rat initially learns that its actions have no effect on the shocks it receives, which could make it harder for the rat to learn later that its actions can prevent shocks, demonstrating learned irrelevance.

In the First Phase of Training, a Rat Placed in an Operant