Deck 6: Learning

Question 1

Vicarious conditioning is BEST defined as:

A) conditioning that takes place via observation of others' life experiences rather than one's own.
B) a form of learning in which the consequences of a voluntary behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior recurring.
C) the observation that a behavior is more likely to be repeated if its effects are desirable but less likely if its effects are undesirable.
D) conditioning that occurs when a reinforcer requires a learned link to a primary reinforcer to have a reinforcing effect.

Answer 1

conditioning that takes place via observation of others' life experiences rather than one's own.

Question 2

That 14-year-old Shayla is starting to become interested in certain people as "more than friends" is MOST likely due to:

A) maturation.
B) instinct.
C) adaptation.
D) learning.

Answer 2

maturation.

Question 3

Shoe companies often pair their logos with successful athletes in order to get you excited about buying their shoes. Prior to the advertising and branding process, the shoe company's logo would be considered a(n) _____ in classical conditioning terms.

A) unconditional stimulus
B) neutral stimulus
C) conditioned stimulus
D) neutral response

Answer 3

neutral stimulus

Question 4

_____ is the process by which stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus might cause a similar response.

A) Extinction
B) Discrimination
C) Generalization
D) Acquisition

Question 5

Shoe companies often pair their logos with successful athletes in order to get you excited about buying their shoes. Which could be BEST described as the conditioned response in this scenario?

A) the shoe company's logo
B) the successful athletes
C) your excitement about athletes
D) your excitement about the shoes

Question 6

When driving, you only go through a traffic signal when it is green, not when it's red. The color of the light is BEST described as serving as a(n):

A) discriminative stimulus.
B) primary reinforcer.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) neutral stimulus.

Question 7

A behavior that is spontaneously recovered is BEST described as one that:

A) stops.
B) reemerges.
C) decreases.
D) increases.

Question 8

When Yizhou got a rash on his arm, his mother suggested he rub an anti-itch cream on it. Since the cream got rid of his skin irritation, Yizhou now applies it whenever he gets a rash. This is BEST described as an example of:

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

Question 9

In order to feed his cat, Mitchell has to open the kitchen drawer. Now whenever Mitchell opens the kitchen drawer-even if he's getting something other than cat food-his cat comes running in and starts meowing loudly while circling its food bowl. In this situation, the cat's behavior of running into the kitchen upon hearing the sound of the kitchen drawer is considered a(n):

A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.

Question 10

_____ is the process by which consequences of a behavior increase the likelihood that the behavior will happen again.

A) Vicarious conditioning
B) Higher-order conditioning
C) Reinforcement
D) Punishment

Question 11

The classical conditioning process known as discrimination is characterized by:

A) stimuli that are different from the conditioned stimulus failing to cause the same conditioned response.
B) a formerly neutral stimulus now causing a response because of its direct link to an unconditioned stimulus.
C) stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus causing the same conditioned response.
D) an automatic response to a stimulus occurring naturally without any need for learning.

Question 12

An initial increase in behavior that occurs when a reinforcer is removed from a contingency is called:

A) an extinction burst.
B) punishment.
C) shaping.
D) discrimination.

Question 13

Which statement about B. F. Skinner is NOT true?

A) He believed that humans have no free will over their behavior.
B) He believed that human behavior was different from that of animals.
C) He is more associated with operant conditioning than is Thorndike.
D) He conducted many studies with animals demonstrating the law of effect.

Question 14

In positive punishment, presentation of a(n) _____ stimulus _____ the likelihood that the behavior will happen again.

A) undesirable; increases
B) undesirable; decreases
C) desirable; increases
D) desirable; decreases

Question 15

Which of the following BEST describes learning?

A) a behavior change that occurs based on maturation
B) a process by which events influence future behavior
C) an automatic response that occurs without thinking
D) the behavior set with which an organism is born

Question 16

Sam is teaching his dog to sit up and beg. First, he gives his dog a treat for just sitting. Then he makes the dog raise up one paw after it sits before giving it a treat. Finally, he gives the dog a treat only when the dog sits up and raises both paws. What term BEST describes this process?

A) negative reinforcement
B) positive punishment
C) shaping
D) discriminating

Question 17

Mary is highly allergic to cats. Mary's friend, Sue, has a roommate who has cats. Whenever Mary visits Sue, Mary sneezes even before she enters Sue's house. Mary's sneezing persists even after Sue's roommate and his cats have moved out. After a while, Mary stops sneezing before she enters Sue's house. The point at which Mary's sneezing stopped is an example of:

A) acquisition.
B) generalization.
C) discrimination.
D) extinction.

Question 18

_____ is the moment at which the conditioned stimulus no longer produces a conditioned response.

A) Acquisition
B) Extinction
C) Generalization
D) Discrimination

Question 19

Compared to classical conditioning, operant conditioning is more:

A) passive.
B) active.
C) involuntary.
D) reflexive.

Question 20

Money to buy food when hungry is BEST described as a:

A) punisher.
B) negative reinforcer.
C) primary reinforcer.
D) secondary reinforcer.

Question 21

Which is NOT true about discriminative stimuli?

A) They are important for both punishment and reinforcement.
B) They can be based on any sense, including taste and smell.
C) They can be used by humans but not by other animals.
D) They act as signals for the consequences of behavior.

Question 22

A contingency is exemplified by which statement?

A) I cannot help that I am a very anxious person especially in social situations.
B) If I set my alarm clock 10 minutes fast, then I am on time for my meetings.
C) I enjoy spending time with my family over the holidays.
D) My favorite outdoor activity is rock climbing.

Question 23

_____ neurons are activated when a person performs or observes a particular behavior.

A) Observational
B) Shaping
C) Imitative
D) Mirror

Question 24

In the middle of Pavlov's studies, the dogs started salivating when the bell sounded rather than just when food was in their mouths. At this point, the bell became a(n):

A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.

Question 25

Classical conditioning occurs when there is a connection between two _____ that occur together such that one predicts the other.

A) stimuli
B) responses
C) behaviors
D) organisms

Question 26

_____ neurons may underlie empathy and imitation.

A) Observational
B) Shaping
C) Imitative
D) Mirror

Question 27

An example of secondary reinforcement is:

A) water.
B) physical touch.
C) money.
D) food.

Question 28

Which physiologist is MOST associated with experimentally establishing the concept of classical conditioning?

A) Ivan Pavlov
B) John B. Watson
C) B. F. Skinner
D) Edward L. Thorndike

Question 29

Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which:

A) observations of others' life experiences, rather than one's own, results in conditioning over time.
B) the consequences of a voluntary behavior affect the likelihood that the behavior will recur in the future.
C) some behaviors take place because the animal's biological clock says it is time for them to occur.
D) an organism makes a connection between two stimuli that have occurred together, such that one predicts the other.

Question 30

A dog trainer gives a dog a treat every third time the dog sits after the trainer says "sit." What BEST describes the schedule of reinforcement the trainer is using to control the dog's behavior?

A) fixed-ratio
B) variable-ratio
C) fixed-interval
D) variable-interval

Question 31

When Liam started training for a marathon, he twisted his ankle. Now every time he tries to run, his ankle hurts. Thus, he has decided to stop running for now, though he hopes to try for the marathon next year. Liam's injury is serving as a:

A) positive reinforcer.
B) negative reinforcer.
C) positive punisher.
D) negative punisher.

Question 32

Which example BEST reflects a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement?

A) getting a candy bar from a vending machine
B) playing a slot machine for the jackpot
C) going fishing on the lake
D) studying for a possible pop quiz

Question 33

Which psychologist is MOST associated with observational learning studies?

A) Ivan Pavlov
B) Edward Thorndike
C) B. F. Skinner
D) Albert Bandura

Question 34

Which behavior BEST exemplifies a conditioned response?

A) salivating after hearing a soda can open
B) tensing up during a painful dental procedure
C) pulling your hand away from a hot stove
D) breathing heavily after sprinting

Question 35

In which scenario would acquisition of a classically conditioned response be MOST likely to occur?

A) Whenever Marco sneezes, his boyfriend is sure to say, "Bless you" and hand him a tissue.
B) Kayla always wears a vanilla-scented lotion, but one time when she wore it, she got a cold.
C) After Shannon receives a painful shot, she treats herself to ice cream and eats a new flavor.
D) Every time Thomas sees high-heeled shoes, they are being worn by an attractive woman.

Question 36

Fatema grew up in Iraq and often heard gunfire and explosions near her home, which caused her alarm and anxiety. She moved to the United States, and during her first Fourth of July celebration, she was very startled by the loud booming and explosive sound of the fireworks. Fatema's startled reaction in response to the sound of the fireworks is BEST described as an example of:

A) learned helplessness.
B) discrimination.
C) generalization.
D) acquisition.

Question 37

When Sarita stayed out past her curfew, her mother took away her cell phone. Now Sarita makes sure to never stay out past curfew. Sarita's change in behavior is MOST influenced by:

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

Question 38

Madita, who teaches third graders, puts a sticker on each of her students' papers every time their work earns an A. This is BEST described as a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) intermittent
B) negative
C) partial
D) continuous

Question 39

Which situation BEST exemplifies a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement?

A) getting soda from a vending machine
B) playing a slot machine for the jackpot
C) checking your mailbox for a birthday card
D) checking your phone for voicemail

Question 40

Which statement is FALSE about learning?

A) Learning can involve association of events that occur.
B) Learning is the "nature" part of the "nature-nurture" debate.
C) Learning can influence behavior guided by maturation.
D) Learning can be modeled in experimental animal subjects.

Question 41

Which situation is NOT an example of learning?

A) After being poked, a sea slug moves a part of its body because, in the past, a poke preceded a shock.
B) The smell of Mexican food makes a hungry person salivate even before the person begins eating.
C) A 3-year-old child can begin toilet training, but a 1-year-old is not yet able to start the process.
D) When a dog is given a treat after doing a trick, the dog is more likely to perform tricks in the future.

Question 42

Ivan Pavlov made an accidental discovery about psychological processes when he was studying:

A) the ways in which a dog would try to escape from a puzzle box.
B) how to make a dog hungrier and work harder to receive food.
C) how he could train a dog to model another dog's behavior.
D) the amount of saliva produced when food touched a dog's mouth.

Question 43

A(n) _____ stimulus causes no response at all.

A) conditioned
B) unconditioned
C) neutral
D) reflexive

Question 44

Operant behavior is based on:

A) if-then statements that guide behavior.
B) stimulus pairings that elicit reflexes.
C) natural unlearned responses.
D) mimicking another person's actions.

Question 45

Kevin mows his neighbor's lawn every week, but his neighbor only pays him at the end of each month. This is BEST described as a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) extinction
B) negative
C) partial
D) continuous

Question 46

What type of learning is MOST likely being utilized in advertising?

A) classical conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) insight
D) instinctual drift

Question 47

Even though you praise your dog for sitting inside on his bed and chewing the bone you gave him, your dog insists on going outside and burying his bone. This is MOST likely an example of:

A) shaping.
B) classical conditioning.
C) instinctive drift.
D) operant conditioning.

Question 48

_____ is a term used to describe how psychologists use operant conditioning to help people reduce unwanted behaviors.

A) Extinction burst
B) Contingency management
C) Stimulus generalization
D) Discrimination

Question 49

When John Garcia made rats nauseous after they tasted sugar water, they drank _____ sugar water. When he gave rats an electric shock after they tasted sugar water, they drank _____ sugar water.

A) less; the same amount of
B) the same amount of; less
C) more; the same amount of
D) the same amount of; more

Question 50

In which situation would vicarious conditioning MOST likely occur?

A) Harry is rewarded for doing well on his science project and brings home the highest grade he's ever gotten.
B) Riley salivates as she drives by a bakery, smells the wonderful aroma of desserts, and sees a neon sign that says, "Freshly baked!"
C) Sally watches as Joe gets excited over a certain ring tone because it signifies his friends are inviting him out.
D) Wesley is punished for coming home way after curfew and decides to never break curfew again.

Question 51

In acquisition, a(n) _____ stimulus predicts the occurrence of a(n) _____ stimulus.

A) unconditioned; unconditioned
B) unconditioned; conditioned
C) conditioned; unconditioned
D) conditioned; conditioned

Question 52

In instinctive drift, an animal's behavior:

A) increases based on the reinforcers that follow it.
B) is elicited by stimuli associated with a reflex.
C) returns to genetically programmed patterns.
D) mimics that of another member of its species.

Question 53

Seven-year-old Alfanso is going to the eye doctor for the first time. One of the tests performed by the eye doctor is one that checks for pressure in the eye. To take this test, Alfanso sits in a chair, places his forehead against an apparatus, and waits for instructions from the doctor. Then his eye is hit with a puff of air! While it doesn't hurt, it sure is startling and reflexively causes Alfanso to blink. When the doctor says it's time to check the other eye, Alfanso begins to blink as soon as he rests his head against the apparatus. What is the MOST likely explanation for Alfanso's behavior?

A) Alfanso's conditioned response to the air puff generalized the feeling of the apparatus against his forehead.
B) Alfanso acquired a conditioned response to the feeling of the apparatus against his forehead due to its pairing with the air puff.
C) Alfanso's unconditioned response to the air puff extinguished his response to the feeling of the apparatus against his forehead.
D) Alfanso discriminated between the air puff and the feeling of the apparatus against his forehead.

Question 54

Ivan Pavlov originally did not study psychological processes, but rather was a:

A) physiologist.
B) geologist.
C) chemist.
D) sociologist.

Question 55

Thorndike demonstrated the law of effect by showing that:

A) cats would repeat actions that got them out of a puzzle box.
B) dogs would salivate to a bell if the sound was paired with food.
C) pigeons would peck a red, but not a blue, light to get grain.
D) children would be more likely to hit a doll if they saw an adult do it.

Question 56

Two-year-old Corwin sees his cousin Alexis get excited when hearing the theme song for an animated movie she likes. Now when Corwin hears that song, he starts jumping up and down excitedly. What MOST likely happened?

A) operant conditioning
B) observational conditioning
C) spontaneous recovery
D) vicarious conditioning

Question 57

Which psychologist is most associated with studies of biological preparedness by inducing taste aversions in rats?

A) Ivan Pavlov
B) B. F. Skinner
C) Albert Bandura
D) John Garcia

Question 58

Four-year-old Salina is playing with a battery-operated bubble gun. Suddenly, the batteries fail and the gun no longer produces bubbles. She rapidly hits the trigger a few times, shakes it and tries again, and finally discards the gun to search for something else to play with. What is the MOST likely explanation for this behavior series?

A) Salina acquired bubble-gun operating behavior.
B) Salina generalized bubble-gun playing to other toys.
C) Salina found bubble-gun playing negatively reinforcing.
D) Salina's bubble-gun playing underwent extinction.

Question 59

In order for acquisition to occur, the _____ stimulus must occur before and close in time to the occurrence of the _____ stimulus.

A) neutral; unconditioned
B) unconditioned; neutral
C) conditioned; neutral
D) neutral; conditioned

Question 60

_____ is imitation of observed behavior.

A) Modeling
B) Shaping
C) Discriminating
D) Generalizing

Question 61

_____ are "if-then" statements that explain past events and govern future behavior.

A) Placebos
B) Phobias
C) Contingencies
D) Discriminative stimuli

Question 62

Nu-Chu hates getting shots and always cringes when a hospital show on TV shows a doctor giving a patient an injection. This set of behaviors would MOST likely be controlled by:

A) operant conditioning.
B) classical conditioning
C) shaping.
D) mirror neurons.

Question 63

A(n) _____ describes the patterns by which reinforcement occurs in response to the execution of a behavior.

A) positive reinforcer
B) negative reinforcer
C) schedule of reinforcement
D) acquisition of reinforcement

Question 64

Insulin is produced by the body when sugar is ingested. Research has found that insulin starts being produced just when sugar is put on the tongue-before it actually gets into the stomach and, ultimately, the bloodstream. In this scenario, the production of insulin after sugar enters the stomach and bloodstream would be a(n):

A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.

Question 65

Seven-year-old Paul is going to the eye doctor for the first time. One of the tests performed by the eye doctor is one that checks for pressure in the eye. To take this test, Paul sits in a chair, places his forehead against an apparatus, and waits for instructions from the doctor. Then his eye is hit with a puff of air! While it doesn't hurt, it sure is startling and reflexively causes Paul to blink. When the doctor says it's time to check the other eye, Paul begins to blink as soon as he rests his head against the apparatus. What is the unconditioned response in this acquisition scenario?

A) Paul being startled
B) Paul's blinking after the feeling of the apparatus against his forehead
C) the puff of air in Paul's eye
D) Paul's blinking after the air puff

Question 66

After a bad breakup, Scarlett was crying and there was a specific song playing on the radio that made Scarlett cry even more. For the next few months, whenever that song came on the radio, Scarlett would get choked up and teary-eyed. Finally, after about 6 months, Scarlett would hear that particular song and no longer react emotionally. A year later, however, the song came on the radio, and suddenly Scarlett felt herself get choked up again. This latter response is BEST described as:

A) discrimination.
B) spontaneous recovery.
C) generalization.
D) extinction.

Question 67

When hiking in the mountains, Jennifer has learned that if she moves very slowly around any snake that she encounters on the trail, then the snake won't strike and hurt her. Jennifer MOST likely learned this through _____ conditioning.

A) classical
B) operant
C) reflexive
D) higher-order

Question 68

That 2-year-old Connor is starting to toilet train is MOST likely due to:

A) maturation.
B) insight.
C) instinctual drift.
D) learning.

Question 69

A(n) _____ is a signal that indicates that a particular behavior will be followed by a particular consequence.

A) discriminative stimulus
B) primary reinforcer
C) unconditioned stimulus
D) neutral stimulus

Question 70

Acquisition is based on the ability of a stimulus to _____ another stimulus.

A) elicit
B) mimic
C) predict
D) extinguish

Question 71

If Pavlov flashed a bright light before ringing the bell, and the bright light began to elicit salivation among the dogs, it could be said that _____ took place.

A) operant conditioning
B) spontaneous recovery
C) vicarious conditioning
D) higher-order conditioning

Question 72

Which would NOT be considered an unconditioned response to an unconditioned stimulus?

A) becoming aroused at the sight of high heels
B) salivating when around the smell of hot doughnuts
C) ducking when a ball is thrown at your head
D) feeling happy when reunited with someone you love

Question 73

_____ is learning that has taken place but cannot yet be directly observed.

A) Operant conditioning
B) Classical conditioning
C) Latent learning
D) Observational learning

Question 74

_____ is the process by which the consequence of a behavior decreases the likelihood that the behavior will happen again.

A) Vicarious conditioning
B) Higher-order conditioning
C) Reinforcement
D) Punishment

Question 75

Extinction occurs when the _____ stimulus no longer predicts a(n) _____ stimulus.

A) unconditioned; unconditioned
B) unconditioned; conditioned
C) conditioned; unconditioned
D) conditioned; conditioned

Question 76

When Zuoxin tells a new joke he heard to his roommate, his roommate laughs. Zuoxin keeps telling jokes, but his roommate (who needs to study) stops laughing. What is MOST likely to happen to Zuoxin's joke-telling behavior?

A) Zuoxin will immediately stop telling jokes.
B) Zuoxin will tell a few more jokes and then give up.
C) Zuoxin will keep telling jokes until his roommate yells.
D) Zuoxin will keep telling jokes all night.

Question 77

"If I read the chapter before going to class, then the lecture will make more sense" is an example of a:

A) placebo.
B) phobia.
C) contingency.
D) discriminative stimulus.

Question 78

Dog trainers pair the sound of a clicker with treats so they can influence a dog's behavior without having to provide a treat every time. In this situation, the association between the clicker and a treat is an example of _____, and the clicker serves as a _____ to influence the dog's behavior.

A) operant conditioning; primary reinforcer
B) classical conditioning; primary reinforcer
C) operant conditioning; secondary reinforcer
D) classical conditioning; secondary reinforcer

Question 79

Which psychologist is MOST associated with operant conditioning and posited that humans have no free will?

A) Ivan Pavlov
B) John B. Watson
C) B. F. Skinner
D) Edward L. Thorndike

Question 80

Insulin is produced by the body when sugar is ingested. Research has found that insulin starts being produced just when sugar is put on the tongue-before it actually gets into the stomach and, ultimately, the bloodstream. In this scenario, insulin being produced after sugar just touches the tongue would be a(n):

A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.