Question 1

The story of behaviorism and behavior therapy is deeply linked to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism and behavior therapy are deeply linked to the story of science in American psychology and reactions to unscientific psychoanalytic approaches. While behaviorism emphasized observable and measurable behaviors, it emerged partly in response to the subjective and unscientific methods of psychoanalysis and introspectionism, focusing instead on a more objective and scientific approach to understanding human behavior.

Question 2

Psychoanalysis focuses on inner dynamics, whereas behaviorism focuses strictly on:

Accepted Answer

Psychoanalysis delves into the unconscious mind and inner dynamics, while behaviorism concentrates on observable behaviors, dismissing internal mental states as irrelevant for scientific study.

Question 3

Prior to the work of John B. Watson, the field of psychology in North America was generally regarded as a(n) ____________ rather than a science.

Accepted Answer

Before John B. Watson, psychology in North America was largely considered a branch of philosophy rather than a distinct scientific discipline. Watson's promotion of behaviorism helped shift psychology towards a more empirical and experimental science.

Question 4

For John B. Watson, behaviorism was based on:

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson, the founder of behaviorism, emphasized the importance of observable and verifiable data in the study of psychology, moving away from introspective methods and focusing on external behaviors that could be measured and analyzed scientifically.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about John Watson's research with Little Albert is/are true?

Accepted Answer

The correct statements are B and C. Watson's method was indeed quick and efficient, and Little Albert's fear generalized to similar objects. Statement A is incorrect because it overstates the number of trials needed before Albert developed a fear of white rats.

Question 6

In the case of Little Albert, what was the unconditioned stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus in the Little Albert experiment was the loud sound of a metal bar being struck, which naturally elicited a fear response from Albert without any prior conditioning.

Question 7

How was Mary Cover Jones able to extinguish Little Peter's fear response to furry animals?

Accepted Answer

Mary Cover Jones used a technique known as counterconditioning, where she introduced furry animals to Little Peter while he was eating his favorite foods, thereby associating the positive experience of eating with the presence of the animals and gradually extinguishing his fear.

Question 8

What was/were Mary Cover Jones's main finding(s) about methods for reducing or eliminating fear through counterconditioning?

Accepted Answer

Mary Cover Jones's research primarily focused on counterconditioning as a method to reduce or eliminate fears. She found that by associating a feared object with positive experiences (A), and through social imitation, where children could observe others interacting fearlessly with the fear-object (C), fears could be effectively reduced or eliminated. This work laid the groundwork for later developments in behavior therapy.

Question 9

Arnold Lazarus was the first behavior therapist to express an open acceptance of:

Accepted Answer

Arnold Lazarus was known for his advocacy of eclecticism, which involves integrating techniques from various therapeutic approaches to best meet the needs of the client.

Question 10

Why is the term behavior therapy somewhat misleading by today's theoretical definition?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy has evolved to include cognitive aspects, leading to approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses both thoughts and behaviors.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true regarding applied behavior analysis?

Accepted Answer

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior, which uses operant conditioning principles to improve specific behaviors. It does not primarily focus on cognitive meditational variables or combine behavioral and social learning factors in the way described in options B and C.

Question 12

Which of the following procedures is/are used by applied behavior analysts?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed (Reinforcement, Punishment, Extinction, Stimulus Control) are procedures used by applied behavior analysts to modify behavior. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, punishment decreases the likelihood, extinction involves the discontinuation of reinforcement leading to a decrease in behavior, and stimulus control involves modifying behavior by changing the stimuli that precede the behavior.

Question 13

Negative reinforcement is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the strengthening of a behavior because it removes or diminishes a negative (aversive) stimulus.

Question 14

Which of the following is defined as the extension of a conditioned fear response to new settings, situations, or objects?

Accepted Answer

Stimulus generalization occurs when a response that has been conditioned to a specific stimulus is also elicited by similar stimuli. This means that the conditioned fear response extends beyond the original setting, situation, or object to new ones that resemble the original conditioned stimulus.

Question 15

Stimulus discrimination occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Stimulus discrimination occurs when a conditioned response (like fear) is not elicited by a new stimulus that differs from the original conditioned stimulus. This means the individual can tell the difference between the original stimulus and a new, similar one, and does not respond in the same way to the new stimulus.

Question 16

A 5-year-old is given a 5-minute time-out for throwing spaghetti all over a new white tablecloth. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 5-year-old is given a 5-minute time-out...

Question 17

A 5-year-old is slapped for throwing spaghetti all over a new white tablecloth. This is most likely an example of:

Accepted Answer

Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring. In this scenario, the slap serves as a punishment for throwing spaghetti, aiming to reduce the likelihood of such behavior in the future.

Question 18

In behavior theory and therapy, classical conditioning is sometimes referred to as associational learning. It can include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning, a form of associational learning, encompasses stimulus generalization (the tendency for the conditioned stimulus to evoke similar responses after the response has been conditioned), spontaneous recovery (the reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of lessened response), and stimulus discrimination (the ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus).

Question 19

During therapy, a woman with a severe rodent phobia was given instructions for progressive muscle relaxation and shown a picture of a mouse. Over time she was gently exposed to a live mouse. This is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of systematic desensitization, a therapy technique where a patient is gradually exposed to an anxiety-producing stimulus (in this case, a mouse) while being taught relaxation techniques (like progressive muscle relaxation) to overcome the anxiety.

Question 20

According to behaviorists, psychopathology results when:

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists believe that psychopathology can result from learning or skill deficits, as these deficits can lead to maladaptive behaviors.

Quiz 7: Behavioral Theory and Therapy