Question 1

Which modification goal responds best to behaviour modification?

Accepted Answer

Behaviour modification involves changing specific behaviours through reinforcement or punishment. Therefore, a specific overt behaviour, such as walking the dog every day, is the best goal to respond to behaviour modification techniques. Goals that are broadly defined or related to personality traits may not be as effective, as they are harder to measure and modify.

Question 2

Tammy gets a sticker to put on a chart every time she cleans her room, brushes her teeth or does a variety of other tasks that her parents want to encourage. At the end of the week, she can get a special treat if she has earned enough stickers. What is the term for this program of behaviour modification?

Accepted Answer

The program described is a token economy, where a token or sticker is given as a reward for desirable behavior, which can then be exchanged for a larger reward at a later time. This is a common behavior modification technique used in various settings, including schools and therapy programs.

Question 3

Many parenting books, dog training manuals, and business management approaches all advocate the use of operant conditioning techniques to encourage desirable behaviour in children, pets, and employees. Which unifying theme in psychology is reflected by the widespread knowledge of, and application of conditioning techniques?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many parenting books, dog training manuals, and...

Question 4

Which of the following becomes more active when you do an action, and also when you observe someone else doing that action?

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are a type of neuron that become more active both when an individual performs a specific action and when they observe another individual performing that same action. They are believed to play a role in social cognition, empathy, and the ability to learn by imitation. Bimodal neurons are a type of sensory neuron that respond to two different types of stimuli, while dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are neurotransmitters that are involved in many different processes in the brain, but not specifically related to observation and action.

Question 5

It often helps an individual comply with a behaviour modification program if he or she signs a written agreement outlining a promise to adhere to the contingencies of a behaviour modification program. What is this type of agreement called?

Accepted Answer

This type of agreement is commonly known as a behavioural contract or behavior contract. It outlines the specific behaviours to be modified, the contingencies that will be put in place, and the consequences or rewards for meeting or failing to meet the goals. The contract is signed by both the individual and the behavior modification specialist or therapist, and serves as a tangible reminder of the commitment made to the program.

Question 6

When the owner of the bakery gave Francine a tart for coming in and chatting, what type of reinforcer did she get?

Accepted Answer

A tart is a primary reinforcer because it is naturally rewarding and does not require any learning to be effective.

Question 7

Which unifying theme in psychology is reflected by the existence of biological constraints on learning, such as instinctive drift and conditioned taste aversions?

Accepted Answer

The unifying theme of heredity and environment jointly influencing behaviour is reflected by the existence of biological constraints on learning, such as instinctive drift and conditioned taste aversions. These constraints show that while learning is influenced by environmental factors, it is also influenced by our genetic predispositions and instincts.

Question 8

The advertising industry often attempts to manipulate consumers so that they will have positive associations with a company's product. Which learning principles are typically applied for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is typically applied in advertising to create a positive emotional response or association with a company's product by pairing it with a positive stimulus (such as an attractive celebrity, happy music or cute animals). This creates a positive association with the product in the consumer's mind over time.

Question 9

You have observed your friend Kyle have great success in his relationship because he is very thoughtful. For example, he brings flowers for no reason and he offers foot-rubs when he knows that his partner is stressed. You know that these behaviours would be beneficial in your own relationship, because you've seen how rewarding it is for Kyle, and yet you do not actually employ these strategies. As a result, your relationship is in trouble. What would Albert Bandura suggest about this situation?

Accepted Answer

According to Albert Bandura's social learning theory, there is a difference between acquisition of learning (when we observe and learn a new behavior) and performance (when we actually display the learned behavior). In this situation, the person has acquired the learning by observing Kyle's behavior, but they are not performing it in their own relationship. Therefore, Bandura would suggest that the issue is with performance rather than acquisition.

Question 10

Jason has noticed that he is more likely to play video games, instead of study, whenever his roommate is home. Which of the following is considered to be an antecedent in this example?

Accepted Answer

In this example, the antecedent is the presence of Jason's roommate. It is what is occurring before Jason decides to play video games instead of studying.

Question 11

What has been demonstrated by research examining the long-term effects of media violence?

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that the more violence children watch on TV, the more aggressive they tend to be at home and school. This relationship has been demonstrated in both longitudinal and experimental studies.

Question 12

What is the term for the positive emotions that Francine feels when she first smells bread baking?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the term for the positive...

Question 13

If the experience of illness decreased the likelihood that Francine would go back to the bakery, what is this contingency called?

Accepted Answer

Punishment refers to decreasing the likelihood of a behavior by presenting an aversive consequence following the behavior. In this case, the aversive consequence is the experience of illness, which decreases the likelihood that Francine will go back to the bakery.

Question 14

What is reflected by Francine's tendency to respond most to the smell of baking bread, but also to other baking smells?

Accepted Answer

Francine's response to other baking smells besides bread indicates stimulus generalization, which is the tendency for a stimulus that is similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus to elicit a response similar to the conditioned response. This suggests that Francine has learned to associate the smell of baking with something pleasurable, and that similar smells can also elicit that response. The other answer choices do not fit as well with the scenario described.

Question 15

What is the first step in a behaviour modification program?

Accepted Answer

Specifying a target behaviour is the first step in a behaviour modification program. This involves clearly identifying the behaviour that you want to change and defining it in specific, measurable terms. Without a clear target behaviour, it is impossible to design an effective behaviour modification program.

Question 16

A political candidate uses a negative campaign commercial in which the candidate's opponent is shown alongside a negative image of an angry mob. What is the intent of this commercial?

Accepted Answer

The commercial's intent is to associate the opponent with a negative emotional response by showing them alongside an angry mob.

Question 17

If Francine develops a conditioned taste aversion, which of the following stimuli is most likely to make her feel queasy?

Accepted Answer

A conditioned taste aversion is when an individual develops a negative association with a specific taste after experiencing a negative outcome, such as nausea. Therefore, the most likely stimulus to make Francine feel queasy would be the taste of mangoes, which was the taste that caused her negative outcome. The other stimuli (sight of bakery, smell of baking bread, chatting with store owner) do not have a direct association with her negative experience and therefore are less likely to cause her to feel queasy.

Quiz 6: B: Learning