Question 1

Skinner's treatment of personality is unusual because he

Accepted Answer

Skinner's behaviorist theory did not take into account internal mental processes or subjective experiences. He believed that behavior was solely a product of environment and reinforcement.

Question 2

The essential truth about B.F.Skinner's research is that

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner's research on behavior is fundamentally different from traditional psychological approaches such as psychoanalytic, trait, life span, cognitive, and humanistic approaches. Skinner believed that behavior can be explained by external factors such as rewards and punishments, rather than internal motives or personality traits. He conducted experiments on animals and humans to study the impact of reinforcement and punishment on behavior. Therefore, option D correctly summarizes the essential truth about Skinner's research.

Question 3

The research supporting Skinner's theory was conducted on

Accepted Answer

Skinner's theory, known as operant conditioning, was first developed through experiments with animals such as rats and pigeons. Skinner believed that behavior is shaped and reinforced by consequences, and he used operant conditioning techniques to train animals to perform specific behaviors in response to certain stimuli. While his theory has been applied to human behavior as well, the original research supporting operant conditioning was conducted on non-human animals.

Question 4

Skinner was taught by his parents to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Skinner was taught by his parents to
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Question 5

When a specific stimulus elicits a response,it is called

Accepted Answer

Respondent behavior refers to behavior that is elicited by specific stimuli. This is different from operant conditioning, which involves learning through consequences of behavior, and fixed-interval reinforcement, which involves reinforcing behavior after a certain amount of time has passed. Extinction refers to the process of decreasing the likelihood of a behavior by no longer providing reinforcement.

Question 6

Skinner's research subjects were mainly

Accepted Answer

Skinner's research subjects were mainly animals, such as rats and pigeons. He conducted many experiments on these animals in order to study their behavior and responses to various stimuli. While he did work with humans to some extent, his primary focus was on non-human subjects.

Question 7

Skinner's childhood was characterized by

Accepted Answer

Skinner's childhood was characterized by parental warnings that influenced his adult behavior. He often mentioned how his mother's warnings about not sucking his thumb due to the risk of spreading germs influenced his later work on behavior and its modification.

Question 8

The truth is that B.F.Skinner

Accepted Answer

B.F. Skinner did not offer a personality theory. He is known for his behaviorism theory, which focused on how environmental factors shape behavior. While his ideas were influential in the field of psychology, they did not render all other theories obsolete. His personal life is not relevant to his contributions to psychology.

Question 9

We get a glimpse of Skinner's later work in his childhood love of

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, Skinner's childhood love was constructing mechanical devices. This provides a glimpse of his later work as a psychologist who focused heavily on behaviorism and the concept of reinforcement, which can be seen as a type of mechanical approach to understanding human behavior.

Question 10

At age 22,Skinner experienced

Accepted Answer

According to Skinner's own account, he experienced an identity crisis at age 22.

Question 11

Skinner argued that psychology is the science of

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that psychology should focus on observable behavior rather than internal mental processes, making behavior the subject matter of psychology.

Question 12

Skinner's behavioral approach is

Accepted Answer

Skinner's behavioral approach is often used in schools, correctional institutions, and hospitals to modify behavior and encourage positive actions. It has been applied successfully in real-world situations and is not limited to animals. While it may not be the primary approach for treating neurotic or psychotic individuals, it can still be a useful tool in conjunction with other therapies.

Question 13

Skinner rejected ____ as a valid personality characteristic.

Accepted Answer

Skinner, a behaviorist, rejected internal explanations such as traits, unconscious influences, and defense mechanisms as valid personality characteristics, focusing instead on observable behavior and external environmental influences.

Question 14

Skinner believed that physiological processes are

Accepted Answer

Skinner, a behaviorist, focused on observable behavior rather than internal processes, thus considering physiological processes as irrelevant for understanding mental activities.

Question 15

Skinner described human beings as

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that humans are born as a blank slate or "empty organism" and that all behavior is learned through environmental factors and conditioning. This view is known as behaviorism.

Question 16

Skinner's influence on psychology

Accepted Answer

Skinner's influence on psychology is significant and has wide practical applications, particularly in the field of behaviorism. He developed the theory of operant conditioning and the concept of reinforcement, which has been applied to areas such as education, animal training, and behavioral therapy. His ideas have also influenced other fields such as artificial intelligence and economics.

Question 17

In his early adulthood,Skinner

Accepted Answer

Skinner made a conscious decision to study human behavior using the methods of science rather than the methods of fiction, setting him apart from other writers and psychologists of his time.

Answer: D 
 Skinner became an accomplished writer of non-fiction, including both academic and popular works that helped to spread and popularize his behaviorist ideas. However, he did not begin the cognitive revolution or form the basis of his approach to writing.

Question 18

Skinner believed that behavior can be controlled by

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed in the concept of operant conditioning, which is the idea that behavior is shaped and controlled by its consequences. When a behavior is followed by a desirable consequence, such as a reward, it is more likely to be repeated in the future. Conversely, when a behavior is followed by an undesirable consequence, such as punishment, it is less likely to be repeated. Therefore, A is the best choice as it directly aligns with Skinner's beliefs.

Question 19

Skinner believed people are subjects who express

Accepted Answer

Skinner's behaviorist theory emphasized observable behavior and the environment's influence on it. He believed in studying and controlling overt responses, not inner conflicts, future goals, or needs. Therefore, he saw people as subjects who express overt responses and nothing more.

Question 20

In Skinner's fictional community of Walden Two,

Accepted Answer

In Skinner's fictional community of Walden Two, life is controlled by positive reinforcement.

Quiz 12: Bfskinner: Reinforcement Theory