Question 1

Which of the following is not one of the two basic assumptions underlying the learning theory approach to psychology put forward in the text?

Accepted Answer

C

Question 2

Behavioral and trait approaches share an emphasis on

Accepted Answer

Both the behavioral and trait approaches prioritize empirical investigation in order to understand and potentially predict behavior. While they may use laboratory-based data or pursue idiographic research in some cases, these are not necessarily core features of these approaches.

Question 3

The goal of the behavior therapist, in working with a patient, is

Accepted Answer

The goal of behavior therapy is to modify or eliminate specific target behaviors through the use of various techniques such as reinforcement, punishment, and modeling. The focus is on changing observable behavior rather than gaining insight into underlying psychological issues.

Question 4

Stability to behavior over many situations might be due to

Accepted Answer

Generalization refers to the tendency for behavior that has been reinforced in one situation to occur in other similar situations. Therefore, stability to behavior over many situations could be due to generalization. Extinction refers to the weakening and eventual disappearance of a behavior due to the lack of reinforcement. Discrimination refers to the ability to distinguish between different situations and respond differently to each. Intermittent reinforcement refers to reinforcing a behavior only some of the time, which can result in longer-lasting behavior compared to continuous reinforcement. While all of these factors can influence behavior, generalization is the best choice to explain stability to behavior over many situations.

Question 5

Behaviorists reject concepts such as will and intention because

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists focus on observable and measurable behavior, and anything that cannot be observed or replicated in a public setting is considered irrelevant. Concepts such as will and intention are internal and subjective, and therefore not considered legitimate subjects of study according to the behaviorist approach.

Question 6

Behavioral approaches to personality are critical of trait approaches for their emphasis on

Accepted Answer

Behavioral approaches criticize trait approaches for relying heavily on verbal reports, which they consider subjective and less reliable than observable behaviors.

Question 7

Behaviorists generally believe that

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists, focusing on observable behaviors and their relationships to stimuli, often believe in the potential to generalize findings from controlled laboratory settings to real-life situations. This belief underpins the use of experiments in behaviorist research.

Question 8

With regard to behavior and its determinant, the learning theory approach tends to see the main determinants of behavior as being

Accepted Answer

The learning theory approach emphasizes the role of the environment in shaping behavior, and thus sees the main determinants of behavior as being external to the organism. Internal drives and cognitive controls may also play a role, but they are not seen as the primary determinants of behavior according to this approach.

Question 9

According to learning theory, whatever consistency is found in behavior is most likely the result of

Accepted Answer

Learning theory states that behavior is shaped by environmental conditions, so consistency in behavior is most likely the result of similar environmental conditions evoking the behavior. A limited response repertoire could also contribute to consistency, but it is not the most likely explanation. Similar neural pathways and ergs may play a role, but environmental factors have a stronger influence on behavior according to learning theory.

Question 10

According to the text, the behavior therapist would be most likely to compare his role as a therapist to that of

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapists often view their role as similar to that of an engineer because they apply principles of learning to help clients modify their behavior, much like an engineer applies principles of science and mathematics to design and build structures or systems.

Question 11

The learning theory account of psychopathology is that people

Accepted Answer

The learning theory account of psychopathology suggests that maladaptive behaviors or psychological disorders arise due to inappropriate learning or maladaptive responses to stimuli. This perspective emphasizes the role of the environment and learning processes in the development of psychological issues.

Question 12

Situational specificity in behavior might be due to

Accepted Answer

Discrimination occurs when an individual responds differently to stimuli that are similar but not identical. In the context of situational specificity in behavior, discrimination could explain why a person behaves differently in one situation compared to another. For example, a person may act differently at work compared to how they behave at home. This difference in behavior could be due to the person discriminating between the two situations and behaving accordingly in each situation. Extinction, generalization, and intermittent reinforcement do not necessarily explain situational specificity in behavior.

Question 13

According to the text, many psychologists with a behavioral orientation are turning to an emphasis on _________ in behavior and on minimizing the importance of individual differences in personality.

Accepted Answer

The text states that psychologists with a behavioral orientation are turning to an emphasis on situational specificity in behavior, meaning the importance of the environment and context in shaping behavior. Additionally, according to the text, there is a minimizing of the importance of individual differences in personality, which rules out the choice of D (unconscious forces) as a viable option. Both A (internal events, inside the organism) and C (computer analogies) are not mentioned in the text as being emphasized by psychologists with a behavioral orientation.

Question 14

The learning theory approach to psychology tends to emphasize the _______ approach to research.

Accepted Answer

The learning theory approach focuses on the effects of environmental factors on behavior which can be best studied through experimental research. Through experimentation, researchers can manipulate different variables and observe how they impact behavior, allowing for a causal relationship to be established. Therefore, the learning theory approach tends to emphasize the experimental approach to research.

Question 15

The principle of self-control in behavioral technology is that

Accepted Answer

The principle of self-control in behavioral technology is that the individual gains control over his own reinforcers. This means that the individual becomes capable of regulating their own behavior by accessing and using reinforcement in a meaningful way. It is not necessarily about delayed gratification or learning escape and avoidance responses, and it extends beyond the idea that each individual should control their own behavior.

Question 16

Which of the following is not a strong criticism of Skinner's theory?

Accepted Answer

Skinner's theory, which is heavily based on operant conditioning, has been criticized for various reasons, but the claim that it neglects to provide for measures of important concepts is not a strong criticism. Skinner's work, in fact, was quite focused on operational definitions and measuring observable behaviors. The other options (A, C, D) represent common criticisms of Skinner's behaviorist approach, such as its failure to account for learning without direct reinforcement, its underemphasis on cognitive processes like language and thought, and its lack of consideration for biological differences among species.

Question 17

Behavior theory has been used in psychiatric hospital settings to control and develop the behavior of patients through a system of applied rewards. This system has been called

Accepted Answer

The system of applied rewards used in psychiatric hospital settings to control and develop patient behavior is called a token economy. Patients receive tokens for displaying desirable behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards. This is a form of operant conditioning within behavior theory. Option A is incorrect because "reinforcement economy" is not a commonly used term in behavior theory or psychiatric hospital settings. Option B is incorrect because desensitization typically refers to the gradual exposure to anxiety-inducing stimuli, and it is not typically paired with psychotics. Option D is incorrect because counter conditioning involves changing the association between a stimulus and an unwanted response, and it is not typically used in a reward-based system like a token economy.

Question 18

Which of the following is not an emphasis of the behaviorist approach?

Accepted Answer

Introspection is not an emphasis of the behaviorist approach. Behaviorists believed that only objective, observable behaviors should be studied and analyzed, and that mental processes such as introspection were not valid scientific concepts. Instead, they focused on conducting experiments and assessing behavior through observation and measurement.

Question 19

Watson was influenced in his thinking by

Accepted Answer

Watson was heavily influenced by Ivan Pavlov's work on classical conditioning, which he applied to his own research on behaviorism. Although he was aware of the work of Hull, Skinner, and Tolman, his ideas were primarily shaped by Pavlov's theories.

Question 20

The repeated presentation of a bell with electric shock will lead to the bell becoming

Accepted Answer

The repeated pairing of a bell (neutral stimulus) with electric shock (unconditioned stimulus) will result in the bell becoming a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response (such as fear or anticipation) in the presence of the bell alone. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Quiz 10: Behaviorism and the Learning Approaches to Personality