Question 1

With regard to cognitive development, Piaget argued that _____ is more revealing than _____.

Accepted Answer

Piaget believed that how children think (their mental processes) is more revealing of their cognitive development than what they know (their knowledge/content understanding). He believed that children's cognitive development is shaped by their active exploration and manipulation of their environment, and that their mental processes evolve through a series of stages. Therefore, understanding how children think is key to understanding their cognitive development.

Question 2

Jimmy watches his friend kick a soccer ball into the goal. Later that day, Jimmy finds a soccer ball and proceeds to kick it into the goal. Jimmy most likely engaged in the same behavior as his friend due to _____.

Accepted Answer

Jimmy most likely engaged in the same behavior as his friend due to modeling, which is the process of observing and imitating the behavior of others. Classical conditioning involves learning through associations between stimuli, operant conditioning involves learning through consequences of behavior, and reinforcement is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior repeating. None of these options fully explain why Jimmy imitated his friend's behavior.

Question 3

Behaviorism has also been referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism is a learning theory that focuses on observable, measurable behaviors and the environmental factors that influence them. While Operant Theory and Conditioning Theory are both specific branches of behaviorism, Modeling Theory refers specifically to the process of learning through observing others. As such, Learning Theory is the most appropriate and inclusive term to describe the overall approach of behaviorism.

Question 4

The foundation of cognitive theory is _____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive theory emphasizes the role of a person's thoughts and expectations in shaping their behavior and experiences. It focuses on how people process information, perceive themselves and the world around them, and use that information to make sense of and react to situations. Observable behaviors, inner drives and motives, and observations are all considered important, but not the foundation of the theory.

Question 5

Pavlov's experiments with dogs that salivated when they heard a specific noise without the presence of food provide an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's experiments are a classic example of classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus (the sound) becomes associated with a natural response (salivating at the sight of food).

Question 6

The process by which a response becomes linked to particular stimulus is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Conditioning is the process by which a response becomes linked to particular stimulus through repeated exposure to that stimulus in specific contexts.

Question 7

Any consequence that follows a behavior and makes the person likely to repeat that behavior is called a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

A consequence that follows a behavior and makes the person likely to repeat that behavior is called a reinforcement. Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring, whereas a condition or observation may not necessarily have any effect on the person's behavior.

Question 8

Who was a cognitive theorist?

Accepted Answer

Piaget was a cognitive theorist who developed a theory of cognitive development which focused on how children learn and acquire knowledge through a series of stages. Freud was a psychoanalyst, Watson was a behaviorist, and Maslow was a humanistic psychologist.

Question 9

Observational learning is also called _____.

Accepted Answer

Observational learning is also called modeling, because it involves the observation and imitation of others' behavior. It is different from classical and operant conditioning, which involve learning through association and reinforcement. Cognition refers to mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem solving, which can be involved in all types of learning but are not specific to observational learning.

Question 10

Operant conditioning is also referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is also known as instrumental conditioning because it is based on the idea that behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. This term emphasizes the idea that behavior is instrumental, or functional, in achieving certain goals or outcomes. Classical conditioning, observational conditioning, and reinforcement conditioning are not as accurate or commonly used terms to describe operant conditioning.

Question 11

When a person or animal learns to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus, gradually responding to the neutral stimulus in the same way as to the meaningful one, they are exhibiting _____.

Accepted Answer

This describes the process of classical conditioning, which involves learning to associate a neutral stimulus (such as a tone or light) with a meaningful stimulus (such as food) and eventually responding to the neutral stimulus in the same way as the meaningful one (salivating or other automatic response).

Question 12

The teacher praised the students for their good work on the spelling test. The teacher hopes that the praise will encourage the students to study hard for the next spelling test. In this example, praise is operating as a _____.

Accepted Answer

Praise is functioning as a reinforcement because it is a consequence that is given in response to a particular behavior (doing well on the spelling test) with the aim of increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future (studying hard for the next spelling test).

Question 13

A balloon popped and made Bobby cry. It happened again when he was at a friend's birthday party. Now when Bobby sees a balloon he starts to cry. Bobby cries in response to the balloon because of _____.

Accepted Answer

Bobby's crying in response to the balloon is due to classical conditioning. The popping of the balloon is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally elicits a reflexive response of fear (unconditioned response, UCR) in Bobby. Eventually, the sight of the balloon becomes associated with the loud noise of the pop, and the balloon itself becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that now elicits the same fear response (now a conditioned response, CR) in Bobby.

Question 14

Skinner believed that psychology should focus on the study of behavior. The type of conditioning that Skinner identified was _____.

Accepted Answer

Skinner specifically studied operant conditioning, which involves learning through consequences, such as reinforcement and punishment, to shape behavior.

Question 15

Tammy grew up watching her parents fight. Now that Tammy is an adult she does not want to fight all the time with her romantic partners. Which of the following best explains how Tammy learned that she did not want a relationship filled with conflict?

Accepted Answer

Tammy likely learned through social learning theory by observing her parents' behavior and the negative consequences of their constant fighting. She may have also observed other healthy relationships where there was less conflict and learned from those as well.

Question 16

The modeling of behavior is more likely to occur when the model is all of the following EXCEPT _____.

Accepted Answer

The modeling of behavior is more likely to occur when the model is admired, powerful, and nurturing. Age is not necessarily a determining factor in whether someone will model behavior.

Question 17

Theorists who promote classical conditioning believe that learned behavior is the result of _____, whereas theorists who promote operant conditioning believe that learned behavior is the result of _____.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is based on the association between one stimulus and another, such as Pavlov's dogs salivating at the sound of a bell. On the other hand, operant conditioning emphasizes the role of past reinforcement in shaping behavior, such as a rat learning to press a lever for a food reward.

Question 18

A person observes the actions of others and copies them. Social learning theorists would call this an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of modeling, where individuals learn and imitate behavior they observe in others. Classical and operant conditioning are types of learning that involve associative relationships between stimuli and responses, while cognition involves mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Question 19

The boss praised his hourly employees for their good work. The boss hopes that the praise encourages the employees to continue to work hard. In this example, the reinforcement is _____.

Accepted Answer

The reinforcement in this scenario is the boss's praise, as it is intended to encourage the employees to continue their good work. This is an example of positive reinforcement, where the addition of a positive stimulus (praise) strengthens desired behavior (hard work). The employee's good work may have led to the boss offering praise, but it is not the reinforcement in this scenario. The boss and hourly wage are not directly related to the reinforcement of the employees' behavior.

Question 20

Social learning theory indicates that learning occurs from _____.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory emphasizes the importance of observation and imitation of others in the learning process. It suggests that individuals can learn and adopt new behaviors by observing the actions and consequences experienced by others.

Quiz 2: Seciton 3: Beginnings: Theories of Development

With regard to cognitive development, Piaget argued that _ is more revealing than _.