Exam 7: Learning and Conditioning

Using reinforcers to change behaviour can sometimes create complications. Explain some of the misuses of rewards and reasons why rewards can backfire.

Research discussed in your textbook suggests that a specific drug can speed up the extinction of a phobia (fear of heights) if taken during virtual reality treatments. This drug is believed to enhance a certain type of receptor in the _________.

Tim yells at his daughter Allison for soiling her pants. He also threatens to spank her if she ever does it again. Next week, she soils her pants again. According to studies on punishment, why did Tim's approach fail?

Graham is a 5-year-old who has a conditioned fear of furry and hairy things. He is fond of a snack of milk and chocolate cookies and associates pleasant feelings with it. Psychologists pair a cat with the snack that Graham enjoys until his fear of the cat goes away. This is an example of ________.

Which of the following fears can be easily conditioned in human beings?

Because of classical conditioning, medical treatment can create unexpected misery or relief from symptoms for reasons that are entirely unrelated to the treatment itself. Give an example that illustrates this statement.

Shelayne is 6-years-old and lives in a region that gets a lot of thunder storms. During a storm she is very fearful and insists on staying close to her mother. Which of the following would probably generate a fear response in Shelayne?

In classical conditioning, ________ occurs when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

What is the difference between the traditional Pavlovian approach and the contemporary view on what is actually learned in classical conditioning?

Describe two important differences between classical and operant conditioning.

When a response occurs to a previously neutral stimulus, it is called ________.

In the initial salivary reflex studied by Pavlov, the dogs salivated when food was placed in their mouths. This salivation was a(n)________.

In Skinner's analysis, an operant behaviour can lead to two types of consequences. Describe these two consequences.

Elton's mother has been nagging that he should practise at the piano for the upcoming competition. Elton eventually complies to stop her nagging. This example illustrates _______________.

Behaviourists focus on a basic kind of learning called ________.

Intermittent reinforcement results in ________.

Which of the following statements reflects the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

When Luke kissed Laura, her heart rate increased. Luke always wore the same body spray. Whenever Laura smelled that body spray, her heart raced. The smell of the body spray was the:

Highlight the differences between positive and negative reinforcement.

________ occurs when a parrot that has been trained to peck at a picture of a circle also pecks at a picture of an oval.