Question 1

What is the learned-helplessness effect? Describe two competing explanations of the effect.

Accepted Answer

The learned-helplessness effect refers to a psychological phenomenon where individuals believe that they have no control over their situation, leading them to give up trying to improve their circumstances even when opportunities for change are present. This effect was first studied in the 1960s by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier, who observed this behavior in dogs that had been subjected to uncontrollable shocks and later showed signs of passivity and resignation in the face of new challenges.

Two competing explanations of the learned-helplessness effect are the cognitive and the motivational theories. The cognitive theory suggests that individuals develop a belief that they are unable to control their environment due to past experiences of failure, leading to a sense of helplessness. This belief then influences their behavior and leads to a lack of effort in trying to change their situation. On the other hand, the motivational theory proposes that the learned-helplessness effect is a result of a decrease in motivation to act, rather than a cognitive belief about lack of control. According to this theory, individuals become passive and resigned because they no longer see the value in trying to change their circumstances.

Both explanations offer valuable insights into the learned-helplessness effect, and researchers continue to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions to help individuals overcome this debilitating mindset.

Question 2

Which of the following would most likely be used in a discrete trial procedure?

Accepted Answer

A)  licking water from a tube to gain access to food 
B)  pressing a lever to gain access to food 
C)  running down a runway to gain access to food 
D)  pushing a rod to gain access to food 
A)  licking water from a tube to gain access to food 
B)  pressing a lever to gain access to food 
C)  running down a runway to gain access to food 
D)  pushing a rod to gain access to food C

Question 3

Which of the following is not a conditioned reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A)  giving gold stars to someone 
B)  keeping someone warm 
C)  telling someone "that's the way" 
D)  giving a good grade to someone 
A)  giving gold stars to someone 
B)  keeping someone warm 
C)  telling someone "that's the way" 
D)  giving a good grade to someone B

Question 4

What is meant by belongingness in instrumental conditioning? How does belongingness contribute to animal "misbehavior" in learning situations?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by belongingness in instrumental...

Question 5

The elevated responding for a favorable reward resulting from experience with a less attractive outcome is called

Accepted Answer

A)  proactive belongingness. 
B)  positive contrast. 
C)  negative contrast. 
D)  retroactive belongingness. 
A)  proactive belongingness. 
B)  positive contrast. 
C)  negative contrast. 
D)  retroactive belongingness.

Question 6

Your sister's hamster keeps escaping from its cage.On the first day,it took the hamster 14 hours to escape,but by the second week,the hamster could only be confined for 30 minutes before it worked its way to freedom.According to Thorndike's theory,

Accepted Answer

A)  the stimulus of the cage has become associated with the desire to be free. 
B)  the stimulus of the cage has become associated with the jumping necessary to gain freedom. 
C)  the hamster jumps in order to gain freedom. 
D)  the hamster "operates" on its environment to gain freedom. 
A)  the stimulus of the cage has become associated with the desire to be free. 
B)  the stimulus of the cage has become associated with the jumping necessary to gain freedom. 
C)  the hamster jumps in order to gain freedom. 
D)  the hamster "operates" on its environment to gain freedom.

Question 7

An important aspect of instrumental conditioning is that

Accepted Answer

A)  there are no limitations on the types of new response dimensions that may be modified by instrumental conditioning. 
B)  there are no limitations on the types of new behavioral units that may be modified by instrumental conditioning. 
C)  relevance relations occur in instrumental conditioning. 
D)  the type of behavior that develops does not depend on reinforcer characteristics. 
A)  there are no limitations on the types of new response dimensions that may be modified by instrumental conditioning. 
B)  there are no limitations on the types of new behavioral units that may be modified by instrumental conditioning. 
C)  relevance relations occur in instrumental conditioning. 
D)  the type of behavior that develops does not depend on reinforcer characteristics.

Question 8

Rats in a box were reinforced for rearing behavior.One group received a food pellet 60 seconds following each rear.For another group,each rear was followed immediately by a tone,and then 60 seconds after the rearing,a food pellet was delivered.What do you think happened?

Accepted Answer

A)  The tone group's learning was disrupted in comparison to the non-tone group's learning. 
B)  The tone group's learning was facilitated in comparison to the non-tone group's learning. 
C)  Both groups showed rapid and relatively equal acquisition of rearing behaviors. 
D)  Neither group learned rearing behavior, because of the time delay. 
A)  The tone group's learning was disrupted in comparison to the non-tone group's learning. 
B)  The tone group's learning was facilitated in comparison to the non-tone group's learning. 
C)  Both groups showed rapid and relatively equal acquisition of rearing behaviors. 
D)  Neither group learned rearing behavior, because of the time delay.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of omission training?

Accepted Answer

A)  Wanda cannot play with her friends because she was out too late yesterday evening. 
B)  Robert takes out the garbage to stop his roommate's nagging. 
C)  Billy sleeps late to avoid taking his history final. 
D)  Ellie stops crying when she gets a lollipop. 
A)  Wanda cannot play with her friends because she was out too late yesterday evening. 
B)  Robert takes out the garbage to stop his roommate's nagging. 
C)  Billy sleeps late to avoid taking his history final. 
D)  Ellie stops crying when she gets a lollipop.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of the nature of the instrumental reinforcer in conditioning procedures?

Accepted Answer

A)  The quality of the reinforcer is important, but not the quantity. 
B)  The quantity of the reinforcer is important, but not the quality. 
C)  Neither the quality nor quantity of the reinforcer is important. 
D)  Both the quality and quantity of the reinforcer are important. 
A)  The quality of the reinforcer is important, but not the quantity. 
B)  The quantity of the reinforcer is important, but not the quality. 
C)  Neither the quality nor quantity of the reinforcer is important. 
D)  Both the quality and quantity of the reinforcer are important.

Question 11

A positive contingency between a response and an appetitive stimulus is also known as

Accepted Answer

A)  positive reinforcement. 
B)  negative reinforcement. 
C)  punishment. 
D)  omission training. 
A)  positive reinforcement. 
B)  negative reinforcement. 
C)  punishment. 
D)  omission training.

Question 12

Describe alternative explanations of the learned helplessness effect.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe alternative explanations of the learned helplessness...

Question 13

Brenda steals Kelly's car because Kelly went to Europe without her.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  avoidance. 
B)  negative reinforcement. 
C)  punishment. 
D)  omission training. 
A)  avoidance. 
B)  negative reinforcement. 
C)  punishment. 
D)  omission training.

Question 14

According to behavioral systems theory,instinctive drift is a product of

Accepted Answer

A)  stereotypy. 
B)  the components of the system activated by the conditioning procedure. 
C)  negative reinforcement components. 
D)  differential reinforcement of other behaviors. 
A)  stereotypy. 
B)  the components of the system activated by the conditioning procedure. 
C)  negative reinforcement components. 
D)  differential reinforcement of other behaviors.

Question 15

Your dog is sitting quietly in the front yard when an intruder approaches.As you would hope,the dog begins to bark vigorously and the intruder runs away.The dog's barking is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  sensitization. 
B)  elicited behavior. 
C)  goal directed behavior. 
D)  It cannot be determined with the given information. 
A)  sensitization. 
B)  elicited behavior. 
C)  goal directed behavior. 
D)  It cannot be determined with the given information.

Question 16

The major advantage of free-operant methods over discrete trial procedures is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the animals learn more quickly. 
B)  free operant methods provide the opportunity to observe changes in the likelihood of behavior over time. 
C)  free operant methods can reveal an animal's preferences. 
D)  free-operant methods involve S-S learning, but discrete trial procedures involve S-R learning. 
A)  the animals learn more quickly. 
B)  free operant methods provide the opportunity to observe changes in the likelihood of behavior over time. 
C)  free operant methods can reveal an animal's preferences. 
D)  free-operant methods involve S-S learning, but discrete trial procedures involve S-R learning.

Question 17

Two groups of rats were trained to navigate a runway for food.One group earned a single food pellet,the other received three pellets.What will happen when they are both shifted to a situation in which they earn the alternative reward?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rats that initially received the small reward will run faster for the larger reward than the rats that initially received the large reward did. 
B)  Rats that initially received the large reward will run faster for the small reward than the rats that initially received the small reward did. 
C)  Rats that initially received the small reward will run more slowly for the large reward than the rats that initially received the large reward did. 
D)  The two groups will now run at approximately the same speed. 
A)  Rats that initially received the small reward will run faster for the larger reward than the rats that initially received the large reward did. 
B)  Rats that initially received the large reward will run faster for the small reward than the rats that initially received the small reward did. 
C)  Rats that initially received the small reward will run more slowly for the large reward than the rats that initially received the large reward did. 
D)  The two groups will now run at approximately the same speed.

Question 18

The periodicity of terminal responses is best explained by

Accepted Answer

A)  instinctive drift. 
B)  species-typical responses that reflect the anticipation of reward. 
C)  species-typical responses that reflect other sources of motivation when food is unlikely. 
D)  superstitious behavior. 
A)  instinctive drift. 
B)  species-typical responses that reflect the anticipation of reward. 
C)  species-typical responses that reflect other sources of motivation when food is unlikely. 
D)  superstitious behavior.

Question 19

Suzie thought that earning $6.00 an hour for flipping burgers was great money when she was in high school.Now,after she lost her $20,000 a year job as a flight technician,she isn't even considering returning to her old job at Burgers R Tasty.She is demonstrating

Accepted Answer

A)  positive contrast. 
B)  negative contrast. 
C)  instinctive drift. 
D)  simultaneous contrast. 
A)  positive contrast. 
B)  negative contrast. 
C)  instinctive drift. 
D)  simultaneous contrast.

Question 20

Behavioral systems theory assumes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of behavioral variability, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are unpredictable. 
B)  Because of stereotypy, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are predictable. 
C)  Because we know the system activated, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are predictable. 
D)  Because of instrumental constraints, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are unpredictable. 
A)  Because of behavioral variability, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are unpredictable. 
B)  Because of stereotypy, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are predictable. 
C)  Because we know the system activated, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are predictable. 
D)  Because of instrumental constraints, the types of responses that develop in a conditioning procedure are unpredictable.

What is the learned-helplessness effect? Describe two competing explanations of the effect.

Which of the following would most likely be used in a discrete trial procedure?

Which of the following is not a conditioned reinforcer?

What is meant by belongingness in instrumental conditioning? How does belongingness contribute to animal "misbehavior" in learning situations?

The elevated responding for a favorable reward resulting from experience with a less attractive outcome is called

Your sister's hamster keeps escaping from its cage.On the first day,it took the hamster 14 hours to escape,but by the second week,the hamster could only be confined for 30 minutes before it worked its way to freedom.According to Thorndike's theory,

An important aspect of instrumental conditioning is that

Rats in a box were reinforced for rearing behavior.One group received a food pellet 60 seconds following each rear.For another group,each rear was followed immediately by a tone,and then 60 seconds after the rearing,a food pellet was delivered.What do you think happened?

Which of the following is an example of omission training?

Which of the following is true of the nature of the instrumental reinforcer in conditioning procedures?

A positive contingency between a response and an appetitive stimulus is also known as

Describe alternative explanations of the learned helplessness effect.

Brenda steals Kelly's car because Kelly went to Europe without her.This is an example of

According to behavioral systems theory,instinctive drift is a product of

Your dog is sitting quietly in the front yard when an intruder approaches.As you would hope,the dog begins to bark vigorously and the intruder runs away.The dog's barking is an example of

The major advantage of free-operant methods over discrete trial procedures is that

Two groups of rats were trained to navigate a runway for food.One group earned a single food pellet,the other received three pellets.What will happen when they are both shifted to a situation in which they earn the alternative reward?

The periodicity of terminal responses is best explained by

Suzie thought that earning $6.00 an hour for flipping burgers was great money when she was in high school.Now,after she lost her $20,000 a year job as a flight technician,she isn't even considering returning to her old job at Burgers R Tasty.She is demonstrating

Behavioral systems theory assumes which of the following?

Introduction

Elicited Behavior, Habituation, and Sensitization

Classical Conditioning: Foundations

Classical Conditioning: Mechanisms

Schedules of Reinforcement and Choice Behavior

Instrumental Conditioning: Motivational Mechanisms

Stimulus Control of Behavior

Extinction of Conditioned Behavior

Aversive Control: Avoidance and Punishment

Comparative Cognition I: Memory Mechanisms

Comparative Cognition II: Special Topics

Filters

Exam 5: Instrumental Conditioning: Foundations

What is the learned-helplessness effect? Describe two competing explanations of the effect.

Which of the following would most likely be used in a discrete trial procedure?

Which of the following is not a conditioned reinforcer?

What is meant by belongingness in instrumental conditioning? How does belongingness contribute to animal "misbehavior" in learning situations?

The elevated responding for a favorable reward resulting from experience with a less attractive outcome is called

Your sister's hamster keeps escaping from its cage.On the first day,it took the hamster 14 hours to escape,but by the second week,the hamster could only be confined for 30 minutes before it worked its way to freedom.According to Thorndike's theory,

An important aspect of instrumental conditioning is that

Rats in a box were reinforced for rearing behavior.One group received a food pellet 60 seconds following each rear.For another group,each rear was followed immediately by a tone,and then 60 seconds after the rearing,a food pellet was delivered.What do you think happened?

Which of the following is an example of omission training?

Which of the following is true of the nature of the instrumental reinforcer in conditioning procedures?

A positive contingency between a response and an appetitive stimulus is also known as

Describe alternative explanations of the learned helplessness effect.

Brenda steals Kelly's car because Kelly went to Europe without her.This is an example of

According to behavioral systems theory,instinctive drift is a product of

Your dog is sitting quietly in the front yard when an intruder approaches.As you would hope,the dog begins to bark vigorously and the intruder runs away.The dog's barking is an example of

The major advantage of free-operant methods over discrete trial procedures is that

Two groups of rats were trained to navigate a runway for food.One group earned a single food pellet,the other received three pellets.What will happen when they are both shifted to a situation in which they earn the alternative reward?

The periodicity of terminal responses is best explained by

Suzie thought that earning $6.00 an hour for flipping burgers was great money when she was in high school.Now,after she lost her $20,000 a year job as a flight technician,she isn't even considering returning to her old job at Burgers R Tasty.She is demonstrating

Behavioral systems theory assumes which of the following?

Introduction

Elicited Behavior, Habituation, and Sensitization

Classical Conditioning: Foundations

Classical Conditioning: Mechanisms

Schedules of Reinforcement and Choice Behavior

Instrumental Conditioning: Motivational Mechanisms

Stimulus Control of Behavior

Extinction of Conditioned Behavior

Aversive Control: Avoidance and Punishment

Comparative Cognition I: Memory Mechanisms

Comparative Cognition II: Special Topics

Filters