Question 1

Research comparing people with cocaine dependence and non-cocaine users revealed that when the cocaine users watched a video of a person preparing cocaine for use, they showed more activation in this area of the brain than did the non-users.

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is heavily involved in the processing of emotions and memory, and it plays a significant role in addiction. When individuals with cocaine dependence are exposed to cues related to drug use, such as watching a video of cocaine being prepared, their limbic system shows increased activation compared to non-users. This heightened activation is associated with craving and the emotional aspects of addiction.

Question 2

Thanks to this component of classical conditioning, you automatically learn to avoid all dogs that might attack you if you have been attacked by a dog in the past.

Accepted Answer

Generalization in classical conditioning refers to the process where a response is elicited by stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus. If you've been attacked by a dog in the past, generalization would cause you to react fearfully to all dogs, not just the one that attacked you, because your brain treats all dogs as potentially threatening.

Question 3

If your professor ended certain class days by sounding a bullhorn and then offering sweet-smelling cookies to the class, you would start to salivate to the sound of the bullhorn. If on other days, your professor ended class by ringing a hand bell, and not offering cookies, you would not salivate to the sound of the hand bell. The aspect of classical conditioning responsible for that phenomenon is

Accepted Answer

Discrimination in classical conditioning refers to the ability to distinguish between different stimuli, responding only to the one that is consistently paired with the unconditioned stimulus (in this case, cookies) and not responding to similar stimuli that are not paired with the unconditioned stimulus (the hand bell).

Question 4

All of the following statements about Watson and Rayner's (1920) "Little Albert" experiment are true, EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Watson and Rayner did not plan to recondition Albert away from the conditioned fear of rats. Their study ended without attempting to remove the fear they had instilled in Albert.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes how classical conditioning might be used to treat a fear of heights?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a response until the neutral stimulus alone elicits the response. In this case, showing a patient a video of a person on a skyscraper (neutral stimulus) while helping him relax (response) is an example of using classical conditioning to create a new, positive association with heights, thereby treating the fear.

Question 6

Results from Robert Rescorla's research in which he varied the predictive power of a conditioned stimulus suggested that

Accepted Answer

Rescorla's research demonstrated that the strength of the conditioned response depends on the predictability of the conditioned stimulus in signaling the unconditioned stimulus, indicating that organisms use cognitive processes to assess the predictive value of stimuli.

Question 7

This concept, violated by findings of cross -species conditioning experiments, states that any neutral stimulus can be associated just as easily with one unconditioned stimulus as with any other.

Accepted Answer

Equipotentiality is the concept that suggests any neutral stimulus can be associated equally well with any unconditioned stimulus, a notion challenged by cross-species conditioning experiments which show that some associations are more easily formed than others.

Question 8

Theorists taking this perspective on learning propose that classical conditioning in a natural environment differs in important respects from that found in psychology experiments.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Theorists taking this perspective on learning propose...

Question 9

According to the functionalist perspective, when an organism learns a conditioned response to natural stimuli compared to laboratory stimuli, the conditioning

Accepted Answer

The functionalist perspective suggests that learning in a natural environment allows for more flexibility in the timing between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), making the conditioning less dependent on a very small time interval. This perspective emphasizes the adaptability and functionality of learning processes in real-world settings.

Question 10

As a result of his studies with cats in "puzzle boxes," Thorndike proposed the "law of effect," which states that

Accepted Answer

The "law of effect" proposed by Thorndike suggests that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to recur, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to recur. This principle laid the groundwork for behaviorism and influenced the development of operant conditioning theories.

Question 11

In Thorndike's studies using the puzzle box, he found that a cat was likely to pull a string to escape the box if the consequence of that behavior was food. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's studies are associated with the law of effect, which states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to recur, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to recur.

Question 12

Based on Thorndike’s law of effect, B. F. Skinner formulated a description of this type of learning, in which the consequences of a behavior affect the probability that the behavior will be repeated in the future.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is the type of learning described, where behaviors are influenced by their consequences, leading to an increase or decrease in those behaviors in the future. Skinner built upon Thorndike's law of effect, which posits that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to occur again, while those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is consistent with B. F. Skinner’s brand of
behaviorism known as radical behaviorism?

Accepted Answer

Skinner's radical behaviorism posits that psychology should focus on observable behavior, as internal mental states are not directly observable and thus not scientifically measurable. Skinner argued that understanding and predicting behavior did not require reference to internal mental states.

Question 14

In order to study reinforcement, psychologists commonly place rats, mice, or pigeons inside this apparatus so that reinforcement can be delivered in a controlled fashion.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C) operant chamber, also known as a Skinner box, which is specifically designed for studying operant conditioning by delivering reinforcements or punishments in a controlled manner.

Question 15

When the consequence of a behavior increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated-for example, when a food pellet rolls down the chute after a rat pushes the correct lever-the behavior is said to have been

Accepted Answer

This describes the process of reinforcement, where a behavior is made more likely to occur in the future due to the presentation of a positive outcome (like a food pellet for the rat) immediately following the behavior.

Question 16

When a consequence reduces the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated-for example, if a shock follows the pressing of the wrong lever-the behavior has been

Accepted Answer

When a consequence, such as a shock, follows a behavior and reduces the likelihood that this behavior will be repeated, this process is known as punishment. Punishment is intended to decrease the occurrence of an unwanted behavior.

Question 17

The "positive" and "negative" terms applied to reinforcement and punishment refer to

Accepted Answer

The terms "positive" and "negative" in the context of reinforcement and punishment refer to the addition (positive) or removal (negative) of a stimulus following a behavior, not to the value judgment of the consequence. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior. Similarly, positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior, and negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Question 18

When the frequency or probability of a behavior is increased as a result of the addition or presentation of something following the performance of the behavior, it is called

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a stimulus (something) after a behavior that increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Question 19

Jennifer's parents are hoping that she continues to earn good grades throughout her college career, so they have promised a small deposit into her savings account for each grade above a B that she receives. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. In this case, the deposit into Jennifer's savings account for each grade above a B is a desirable stimulus aimed at increasing the behavior of earning good grades.

Question 20

When the frequency or probability of a behavior is decreased as a result of the addition or presentation of something following the performance of the behavior, it is called

Accepted Answer

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

Quiz 7: Learning