Deck 5: Learning

Question 1

Organisms learn about the consequences of behavior through

A)classical conditioning.
B)operant conditioning.
C)latent learning.
D)discovery learning.

Answer 1

operant conditioning.

Question 2

_____ is a theory of learning that focuses solely on observable actions and responses.

A)Psychoanalysis
B)Behaviorism
C)Humanism
D)Endosymbiosis

Answer 2

Behaviorism

Question 3

Lightning is associated with thunder and regularly precedes it.Thus, when we see lightning, we often anticipate that we will hear thunder soon afterward.This is an example of

A)classical conditioning.
B)observational learning.
C)operant conditioning.
D)stimulus experience.

Answer 3

classical conditioning.

Question 4

Miranda is learning to play tennis.For her first lesson, her instructor models serving and backhand returns while Miranda patiently watches.Miranda then tries to imitate the sequence of swings and motions made by her instructor.Which of the following concepts best describes Miranda's learning process?

A)operant conditioning
B)classical conditioning
C)observational learning
D)latent learning

Question 5

_____ is a learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response.

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

Question 6

Sarah feels sick every time she travels by air.She associates flying with physical illness and, as a result, hates air travel.She also finds it difficult to watch movies with airplanes or read books about airplanes because they make her uncomfortable.This scenario illustrates the learning process of

A)operant conditioning.
B)classical conditioning.
C)observational learning.
D)implicit learning.

Question 7

Salivating at the presentation of food is an example of

A)latent learning.
B)a learned response.
C)a reflex.
D)insight learning.

Question 8

Which of the following is true regarding learning through operant conditioning?

A)Organisms learn the association between two stimuli.
B)Organisms learn behaviors implicitly, without being reinforced.
C)Organisms learn the association between behaviors and their consequences.
D)Organisms learn to act by imitating others.

Question 9

Which of the following is true with regard to the principles of behaviorism?

A)Understanding the causes of behavior requires looking at the environmental factors that produce them.
B)The principles of learning are different for both animals and humans.
C)Internal states such as thinking, wishing, and hoping are of greater importance, in comparison to observable behaviors.
D)Learning is defined as a rapid and unobservable change in behavior.

Question 10

Classical and operant conditioning involve learning through _____, whereas observational learning involves learning through _____.

A)observation and imitation/association
B)conscious behaviors/observation and practice
C)association/watching and imitation
D)conscious thoughts/unconscious thoughts

Question 11

Which of the following is true of observational learning?

A)In observational learning, the learner does not reproduce the actions of another person.
B)In observational learning, there is no relatively permanent change in behavior.
C)Observational learning is one way in which human infants acquire skills.
D)Observational learning helps the learner form associations between events.

Question 12

Tina's eyes water every time she chops onions.Her response is an example of a

A)habit.
B)reflex.
C)conditioned response.
D)voluntary behavior.

Question 13

Learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection between two events is called

A)latent learning.
B)observational learning.
C)associative learning.
D)rote learning.

Question 14

The adage "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" best reflects which of the following types of learning?

A)operant conditioning
B)classical conditioning
C)observational learning
D)latent learning

Question 15

In Pavlov's experiment, the dog automatically salivated to food because food is a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus (US).
B)conditioned stimulus (CS).
C)unconditioned response (UR).
D)conditioned response (CR).

Question 16

Psychologists who examine learning from a behavioral perspective define learning as

A)the result of mental activities such as thinking and reasoning.
B)the relatively stable, observable changes in a person's actions.
C)the encoding of information for the purpose of retention and retrieval.
D)a form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into a problem.

Question 17

Dr.Meyer is known for his difficult pop quizzes.Typically, before he conducts a pop quiz for his students, he shuts the classroom door.Students soon learn to anticipate a pop quiz whenever Dr.Meyer closes the classroom door.In this case, closing the door has become a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus (US).
B)conditioned stimulus (CS).
C)unconditioned response (UR).
D)conditioned response (CR).

Question 18

Which of the following is the best example of an unconditioned response?

A)throwing a temper tantrum
B)sneezing after sniffing pepper
C)raising your hand before asking a question in a classroom setting
D)learning to ride a bike by watching your older brother do so

Question 19

In classical conditioning, organisms learn the association between two

A)organizations.
B)stimuli.
C)motives.
D)considerations.

Question 20

Your psychology assignment is to observe and list any behaviors of your relatives that indicate learning.Which of the following should be included on your list?

A)Your sister bumps into a door when she has a high fever.
B)Your father falls asleep watching TV.
C)Your little brother whines whenever he wants something.
D)Your mother takes a nap after spending long hours surfing the Internet.

Question 21

Marcia is no longer romantically involved with John as they broke up after a three-year relationship.They have no interaction with each other.One day in the mall, she suddenly gets a whiff of the cologne that John always wore.All the former good feelings come pouring back.The sudden onset of good feelings triggered by the cologne is an example of

A)emotional amnesia.
B)spontaneous recovery.
C)discriminatory learning.
D)contingency learning.

Question 22

In the experiment with little Albert conducted by Watson and Rayner, _____ was used as an unconditional response for conditioning Albert to fear a white rat.

A)fire
B)a loud noise
C)pain
D)a sealskin coat

Question 23

_____ is the initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired.

A)Generalization
B)Spontaneous recovery
C)Extinction
D)Acquisition

Question 24

_____ means that the conditioned stimulus (CS) must not only precede the unconditioned stimulus (US) closely in time, but it must also serve as a reliable indicator that the unconditioned stimulus (US) is on its way.

A)Contiguity
B)Contingency
C)Synergy
D)Reliability

Question 25

A father takes his baby out for a walk.The baby reaches over to touch a pink flower and is stung by a bumblebee sitting on the petals.The next day, the baby's mother brings home some pink flowers.The mother removes a flower from the arrangement and takes it over for her baby to smell.The baby cries loudly as soon as she sees it.According to the principles of classical conditioning, the conditioned stimulus in this scenario is the

A)baby's crying.
B)bumblebee.
C)mother.
D)pink flower.

Question 26

_____ in classical conditioning is the process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others.

A)Generalization
B)Discrimination
C)Spontaneous recovery
D)Latent learning

Question 27

In classical-conditioning situations, the _____ is unlearned, but the _____ is learneD.

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

Question 28

Mark's dog, Gus, sits whenever he says, "Sit." Mark now wants to teach Gus a new trick.He wants to teach him to bark each time he says, "Speak," but whenever Mark says, "Speak," Gus sits.The dog's behavior is most likely an example of

A)generalization.
B)habituation.
C)contiguous occurrences.
D)contingent occurrences.

Question 29

In Pavlov's classic study on classical conditioning, the bell was the _____ before conditioning and the _____ after conditioning had occurred.

A)conditioned stimulus/neutral stimulus
B)conditioned stimulus/unconditioned stimulus
C)neutral stimulus/conditioned stimulus
D)neutral stimulus/reinforcer stimulus

Question 30

Watson and Rayner used _____ along with an unconditional stimulus in order to condition fear in little Albert.

A)a loud noise
B)a sealskin coat
C)a white rat
D)a rabbit

Question 31

Before the bell was ever presented, Pavlov's dog salivated each time food was presented.In this situation, salivation is the

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

Question 32

The extent to which the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) occur close together in time reflects

A)contiguity.
B)contingency.
C)proximity.
D)synergy.

Question 33

Pavlov's dog salivates each time he hears a bell.Now, however, after several trials of salivating to the bell and not receiving any food, the dog stops salivating.Which of the following best explains the change in the dog's behavior?

A)Unconditioned response was triggered.
B)Extinction has occurred.
C)Generalization has occurred.
D)Spontaneous recovery wasn't triggered.

Question 34

Pavlov's dog salivated to the sound of a bell because

A)the bell had become a reflex.
B)the bell had become a conditioned response.
C)the bell had become associated with food.
D)the bell had become an unconditioned stimulus for fooD.

Question 35

_____ in classical conditioning is the weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent.

A)Generalization
B)Discrimination
C)Extinction
D)Latent learning

Question 36

Which of the following is true of acquisition in classical conditioning?

A)During acquisition, the unconditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented followed by the conditioned stimulus.
B)During acquisition, the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus are presented very close together in time.
C)During acquisition, the conditioned stimulus loses its significance once the association between the two stimuli has been formed.
D)During acquisition, the unconditional stimulus loses the ability to elicit any kind of response from the subject.

Question 37

The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning, is called

A)generalization.
B)discrimination.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)latent learning.

Question 38

_____ in classical conditioning is the tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response.

A)Generalization
B)Discrimination
C)Spontaneous recovery
D)Latent learning

Question 39

In the context of classical conditioning, _____ occurs when the conditioned response dissipates after the anticipated reward is withheld.

A)spontaneous recovery
B)generalization
C)insight learning
D)extinction

Question 40

You feel fine at the picnic until a spider very similar to the one that bit you last year and made you sick starts to walk onto your picnic blanket.This reaction is most likely a(n)

A)unconditioned stimulus (US).
B)unconditioned response (UR).
C)conditioned stimulus (CS).
D)conditioned response (CR).

Question 41

In operant conditioning,

A)the consequences of behavior produce change in the probability of the occurrence of the behavior.
B)which is a form of respondent behavior, behavior occurs in automatic response to a stimulus.
C)neutral stimuli become associated with unlearned, involuntary responses.
D)behavior is a consequence of the conditioned stimulus (CS).

Question 42

Classical conditioning helps to explain _____, which refers to the decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

A)immunosuppression
B)habituation
C)aversive conditioning
D)counterconditioning

Question 43

According to Thorndike's law of effect,

A)species-specific biological predispositions favor some learning styles over others.
B)behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are strengthened and behaviors followed by frustrating outcomes are weakened.
C)negative behaviors can be easily extinguished through classical conditioning.
D)an organism will recover a previously conditioned response when placed in a novel context.

Question 44

_____ is a form of treatment that involves repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.

A)Instinctive drift
B)Aversive conditioning
C)Expectancy learning
D)Generalizing

Question 45

While watching television, you can see how advertisers cunningly apply classical-conditioning principles to consumers by showing ads that pair something pleasant with a product in hope that you, the viewer, will experience those positive feelings toward the product.In this situation, the product is the

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

Question 46

Which of the following helps to explain drug habituation?

A)operant conditioning
B)latent learning
C)classical conditioning
D)discovery learning

Question 47

Some bears kept in the zoo allow veterinarians to routinely give them total body checkups.These bears open their mouths for teeth cleaning and present their paws for nail clipping.Your friend wonders how anyone could ever get these dangerous animals to be so cooperative without anesthesia.You, however, a psychology student, quickly surmise that the bears had most likely undergone

A)discovery learning.
B)classical conditioning.
C)secondary reinforcement.
D)operant conditioning.

Question 48

Identify an accurate statement related to operant conditioning.

A)Operant conditioning is unaffected by the contingency factor.
B)Operant conditioning is a form of associative learning.
C)Operant conditioning was first described by Ivan Pavlov.
D)Operant conditioning is also known as observational learning.

Question 49

In aversive conditioning experiments to treat alcohol addiction, every time a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, he or she also consumes a mixture that induces nausea.In classical-conditioning terminology, the nausea-inducing agent is the

A)conditioned stimulus.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)neutral stimulus.
D)reinforced stimulus.

Question 50

_____ is a classical-conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.

A)Reinforced conditioning
B)Generalizing
C)Expectancy learning
D)Counterconditioning

Question 51

Taste aversion is an example of

A)immunosuppression.
B)classical conditioning.
C)observational learning.
D)habituation.

Question 52

Little Albert was conditioned by John Watson to fear a white rat.Eventually, however, Albert became fearful of any stimulus that looked white and furry.He became scared not only of rats, but also of rabbits, dogs, and even sealskin coats.This study illustrates

A)extinction.
B)stimulus acquisition in classical conditioning.
C)stimulus generalization in classical conditioning.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Question 53

Classical conditioning can produce _____, which is a decrease in the production of antibodies that can lower a person's ability to fight disease.

A)immunosuppression
B)depression
C)habituation
D)conditioned oppression

Question 54

Robert drank too much tequila last night.He spent much of this morning vomiting.According to the principles of classical conditioning, how will Robert likely react today when he tastes or smells the tequila bottle that he drank out of last night?

A)He will feel happy about what a great time he had last night.
B)He will want to drink more tequila right away.
C)He will find the scent and taste of tequila aversive.
D)He will invite all of his friends over that night for another party.

Question 55

Which of the following is more effective in explaining voluntary behaviors?

A)discovery learning
B)latent learning
C)classical conditioning
D)operant conditioning

Question 56

Leonard is addicted to heroin, but is very careful about overdosing.He always uses a specific amount and takes it only in his apartment.On Friday, he became desperate for the drug while visiting with another drug user.This was the first time he had used heroin outside his own apartment.He injected his normal "safe" dose of heroin but almost died of an overdose.According to the principles of classical conditioning what led to Leonard's condition?

A)Leonard's friend switched his drugs in order to teach him not to use drugs by switching his unconditioned stimulus (US) with his conditioned stimulus (CS).
B)The effect of the heroin was increased because Leonard injected it in a strange environment and his body was not prepared to take the effect under the new setting.
C)Leonard's drug tolerance had reached its limits and his US was confounded with his CS and UR.
D)Leonard took his dose too soon and his body already had too much.

Question 57

Classical conditioning most effectively explains how neutral stimuli become associated with

A)learned behavior.
B)instrumental behavior.
C)involuntary responses.
D)conditioned responses.

Question 58

Miguel has been unable to sleep for the past one week.His wife gives him a vitamin pill and tells him that it will help him sleep at night.The next morning, Miguel is thrilled because he has slept better than ever before.In this scenario, Miguel's response to the vitamin can be attributed to

A)the schedules of reinforcement.
B)aversive conditioning.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)the placebo effect.

Question 59

Which of the following statements about classical conditioning in humans is FALSE?

A)Classical conditioning provides an explanation of fears.
B)Classical conditioning can produce immunosuppression.
C)Classical conditioning can explain drug habituation.
D)Classical conditioning is based on observing and imitating others.

Question 60

In John Watson's experiment on classical conditioning, a white rat was used as a(n) _____ to condition Albert.

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

Question 61

The process by which a stimulus or event following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again is called

A)generalization.
B)extinction.
C)reinforcement.
D)specialization.

Question 62

In operant conditioning, _____ refers to rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior.

A)contingency
B)extinction
C)contiguity
D)shaping

Question 63

Liam is studying in his room for an exam but is disturbed by the loud music from his neighbor's house.He closes the window so that he can no longer hear the loud music.In this scenario, Liam's behavior demonstrates _____ in operant conditioning.

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

Question 64

In operant conditioning, discrimination occurs when

A)a behavior is no longer reinforced and decreases in frequency.
B)an organism responds appropriately to stimuli that signal that a behavior will or will not be reinforced.
C)an organism performs a reinforced behavior in a different situation.
D)an organism reverts to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning.

Question 65

Jennifer accidentally plays a radio channel that she has never heard before.She loves the music it plays and as a result, she plays only that channel whenever she wants to listen to music.In the context of operant conditioning, Jennifer's behavior has most likely been learned through

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

Question 66

Experience with unavoidable negative stimuli can lead to a particular deficit in avoidance learning called _____, in which the organism, exposed to uncontrollable aversive stimuli, learns that it has no control over negative outcomes.

A)instinctive drift
B)extinction
C)learned helplessness
D)learned generalization

Question 67

Which of the following is the best example of a primary reinforcer?

A)praise
B)money
C)food
D)attention

Question 68

A _____ reinforcer is a reinforcer that acquires its positive value through an organism's experience.

A)secondary
B)primary
C)tertiary
D)intermediary

Question 69

Jacky did not score well in her "pre-med" course at the university level.She started studying hard to improve her grades and got into medical school.Even after getting the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), she still works hard for everything and is successful in all her endeavors.Which special kind of response to negative reinforcement is evident in Jacky's case?

A)instinctive drift
B)observational learning
C)learned helplessness
D)avoidance learning

Question 70

In operant conditioning, negative reinforcement

A)is followed by a desirable stimulus.
B)has hardly anything to do with "good" and "bad" behavior.
C)is always followed by something unpleasant.
D)decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur.

Question 71

Bubba, a very smart German shepherd, has learned that if he barks at the neighbors while they're grilling, they will throw him a candy.However, his owner, Paul, does not want Bubba to eat candy as it is not good for his health.He does not allow Bubba to eat candies from the neighbor.When Paul is in the yard, Bubba never barks at the neighbors.According to operant-conditioning principles, Bubba is demonstrating that he can

A)generalize.
B)substitute secondary reinforcers when primary reinforcers are not available.
C)learn a partial-reinforcement schedule.
D)discriminate.

Question 72

In the Water Kingdom Amusement Park, when two sea lions throw and catch balls on their nose, they are rewarded every time with fish after they successfully complete their act.The sea lions have been trained to perform this behavior through

A)generalization.
B)shaping.
C)contiguity.
D)extinction.

Question 73

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

A)Martha improves her grades in English and Math so that her mom can take her shopping as she had promised earlier.
B)Jeff wakes up a few seconds before his alarm clock goes off in order to avoid the obnoxious alarm sound.
C)Rodney mows the lawn more than once a week so as to get $10 from his mother every time he mows the lawn.
D)Barney rapidly increases the sales of his product and ensures complete sale of his stock so that he can get the full 20% bonus as promised by his employer.

Question 74

Shirley repeatedly ends up receiving bad grades in algebra no matter how hard she studies.Eventually, Shirley stops studying for algebra tests and accepts that nothing she does will enable her to get good grades.In the context of operant conditioning, Shirley's behavior exemplifies

A)habituation.
B)instinctive drift.
C)learned helplessness.
D)preparedness.

Question 75

The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior is called

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

Question 76

In operant conditioning, _____ means performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation.

A)rationalization
B)extinction
C)discrimination
D)generalization

Question 77

A _____ reinforcer is innately satisfying and it does not take any learning on the organism's part to make it pleasurable.

A)secondary
B)primary
C)tertiary
D)intermediary

Question 78

_____ is considered a secondary reinforcer.

A)Food
B)Water
C)Money
D)Sexual satisfaction

Question 79

The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior is called

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

Question 80

Which of the following statements aboutB.F.Skinner is FALSE?

A)Skinner conducted many of his studies with animals as opposed to human subjects.
B)Skinner made every effort to study organisms under precisely controlled conditions.
C)Skinner believed that the mechanisms of learning among humans are different than the mechanisms of learning among animals.
D)Skinner trained pigeons to pilot missiles during World War II and congratulated himself on the degree of control he was able to exercise over the pigeons.