Deck 8: Learning Theory: Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner

Question 1

Classical conditioning is attributed to

A) Bandura
B) Skinner
C) Pavlov
D) all of the above

Answer 1

C

Question 2

"Constraints" on learning refer to the finding that

A) organisms are constrained by stimuli and reinforcement
B) organisms are constrained by reflexive responses
C) in classical conditioning, animals are less free than in operant conditioning
D) organisms learn some things more readily than others

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Since the 1960s, strict Skinnerian theory has lost much popularity because psychologists have become increasingly interested in

A) cognitive events
B) drive theories of motivation
C) classical conditioning of emotions
D) psychoanalytic theory

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Responses that are intermittently rather than continuously reinforced are

A) less likely to generalize
B) less subject to negative reinforcement
C) more difficult to extinguish
D) all of the above

Question 5

J. B. Watson

A) applied classical conditioning to child development
B) said there are no innate emotions
C) provided new insights into the role of discriminative stimuli
D) all of the above

Question 6

Shaping

A) is associated with the work of Skinner
B) is also known as the "method of approximations"
C) can teach skills little by little
D) all of the above

Question 7

In light of problems posed by the concept of drive, Premack, one of Skinner's followers, proposes we consider reinforcement

A) in terms of the length of extinction
B) in terms of the power of discriminative stimuli
C) as ratios between positive and negative reinforcement
D) as the momentary probability of a response

Question 8

In Skinner's view, punishment

A) can also be called negative reinforcement
B) often produces unwanted side effects
C) is an effective way to eliminate attention-getting behavior
D) is rare in the modern world

Question 9

According to the text, the most basic difference between Skinner and the developmentalists has to do with

A) the issue of stages
B) the source of developmental change-inner or outer
C) the continuity-discontinuity issue
D) the importance of emotions in the developmental process

Question 10

Skinner argued that internal events such as thoughts

A) have no place in behaviorism
B) should only be studied if they can be observed and measured
C) are less important than Pavlov said they are
D) are less important than Watson said they are

Question 11

A basic principle of operant conditioning is that

A) the CS is the most powerful variable
B) irradiation occurs
C) behavior is governed by its consequences
D) all of the above

Question 12

In operant conditioning

A) the initial stimuli are always known
B) the organism is often strapped to ensure reliable behavior
C) a key measure of conditioning is the rate of response
D) delayed reinforcement is highly effective

Question 13

The text indicates how Skinner discussed emotions as the effects of

A) reinforcement schedules
B) shaping
C) discriminative stimuli
D) behavior chains

Question 14

Skinner's programmed instruction seemed to agree with Montessori's belief in

A) sensitive periods
B) an innate language mechanism
C) the use of sensory materials
D) making learning a positive experience

Question 15

Classical conditioning deals with

A) the pairing of stimuli that precede responses
B) conditioning of reflexes and innate behavior
C) extinction
D) all of the above

Question 16

Shaping

A) is technically similar to negative reinforcement
B) is a method of small steps
C) is the method for getting the organism "in shape" for the experiment
D) is a form of punishment

Question 17

Skinner's attitude toward the theory of natural selection seemed basically

A) positive
B) negative
C) mixed
D) unclear