Question 1

In Pavlov's early classical conditioning experiments, food was the __________, and a bell, which was originally a neutral stimulus, became a(n) __________ when paired with the food.

Accepted Answer

In Pavlov's experiments, food is the unconditioned stimulus because it naturally and automatically triggers a response without needing to be learned. The bell, which initially does not elicit a response, becomes a conditioned stimulus after being paired with the food, as it then starts to trigger a similar response as the food.

Question 2

Pavlov's studies of dogs were initially intended to

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's initial research was aimed at understanding the physiology of digestion in dogs, which led to the discovery of classical conditioning when he observed that dogs would salivate not only when food was presented but also in response to stimuli associated with food, such as the lab assistant's footsteps.

Question 3

In the following scenario, what is the conditioned stimulus? "Miles is an extremely smart dog. His owner always feeds him dog food from a can, which the owner opens using an electric can-opener. Whenever Miles hears the sound of the electric can opener, he runs into the kitchen and over to his food bowl."

Accepted Answer

The sound of the can opener becomes a conditioned stimulus because Miles has learned to associate it with receiving food.

Question 4

When a conditioned response occurs in response to a stimulus that is similar to the conditioned stimulus, this is called

Accepted Answer

Generalization occurs when a conditioned response is triggered by stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus, indicating that the response has been generalized beyond the original stimulus to similar ones.

Question 5

When an individual is able to discern that a given stimulus is NOT the conditioned stimulus, and therefore does not perform the conditioned response, this is called

Accepted Answer

Discrimination in the context of conditioning refers to the ability of an individual to distinguish between different stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus, not to similar, unconditioned stimuli.

Question 6

From the behaviorist perspective, the term "extinction" refers to

Accepted Answer

Extinction in the context of behaviorist psychology specifically refers to the process where a conditioned response decreases or disappears when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus. This is a fundamental concept in classical conditioning, illustrating how learned behaviors can diminish over time when the reinforcement or association that created the behavior is removed.

Question 7

In the dogs that he worked with, Pavlov was able to classically condition something similar to which personality dimension?

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's work primarily involved conditioning dogs to respond to stimuli in a way that could be related to neuroticism, as he was able to induce anxiety or stress responses (such as salivating to a bell) through classical conditioning. This is more aligned with neuroticism, which involves emotional instability and anxiety, rather than traits like friendliness, agreeableness, openness, or conscientiousness.

Question 8

The behaviorist movement rejected what practice of psychology?

Accepted Answer

The behaviorist movement, which emerged in the early 20th century, rejected introspection due to its subjective and unobservable nature. Behaviorists focused on observable and measurable behaviors, rather than internal mental states.

Question 9

After little Albert was conditioned to fear the rat, he

Accepted Answer

Little Albert, after being conditioned to fear the rat, not only demonstrated an emotional reaction to the rat (a previously neutral stimulus) but also generalized this fear to similar objects, such as a rabbit and a fur coat, showing fear responses to them as well.

Question 10

The researcher credited with applying behaviorist principles to elicit fear in a young child, "little Albert," was

Accepted Answer

John B. Watson is the researcher credited with conducting the "Little Albert" experiment, where he demonstrated how fear could be conditioned in a young child using behaviorist principles.

Question 11

When Jones (1924) extinguished Peter's fear of the rabbit by gradually bringing it closer and closer while keeping Peter happy and relaxed, he demonstrated

Accepted Answer

Jones used systematic desensitization, a technique where a fear response is diminished by gradually exposing the subject to the fear-inducing object or situation while ensuring the subject remains in a relaxed state.

Question 12

Who developed the concept of "classical conditioning"?

Accepted Answer

Ivan Pavlov developed the concept of classical conditioning through his work with dogs, demonstrating how a neutral stimulus, when paired with an unconditioned stimulus, could elicit a conditioned response.

Question 13

Who developed the concept of "operant conditioning"?

Accepted Answer

Skinner is credited with developing the concept of operant conditioning, which is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Question 14

The central idea behind the concept of operant conditioning is that

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning, a concept developed by B.F. Skinner, posits that behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it. Positive consequences can reinforce a behavior, making it more likely to occur again, while negative consequences can discourage a behavior. This principle is used in various fields, including education, psychology, and animal training, to shape behavior by rewarding desired actions and discouraging undesired ones.

Question 15

Skinner's novel Walden Two describes

Accepted Answer

Walden Two is a novel by B.F. Skinner that describes a utopian community based on the principles of operant conditioning, where behavior is controlled and modified through reinforcement.

Question 16

Walden Two is conceptualized as a problem-free place because

Accepted Answer

Walden Two is conceptualized as a problem-free place because the society is structured around the use of behavioral engineering principles, specifically the use of positive reinforcement by the government to shape and maintain desirable behavior among its citizens, rather than through punishment or coercion.

Question 17

According to Skinner, biology is important because

Accepted Answer

Skinner, a behaviorist, acknowledged the role of biology in setting the limits within which conditioning and learning could operate. He believed that an organism's biological makeup determines the range of behaviors that can be learned or how it can respond to the environment, rather than behaviors being purely innate or the learning process being entirely unique to each species.

Question 18

Radical determinism states that

Accepted Answer

Radical determinism posits that all behavior is determined by preceding factors (such as the environment, genetics, etc.), leaving no room for free will.

Question 19

Although Hull believed in the importance of environmental reinforcements for learning, he

Accepted Answer

Hull recognized the significance of the internal state of the organism (such as drives and needs) in conjunction with the role of environmental reinforcements in the learning process.

Question 20

__________ are credited with the creation of social learning theory.

Accepted Answer

Dollard & Miller are credited with the creation of social learning theory, which emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others.

Quiz 6: Behaviorist and Learning Aspects of Personality

In Pavlov's early classical conditioning experiments, food was the , and a bell, which was originally a neutral stimulus, became a(n) when paired with the food.