Deck 5: Learning

Question 1

Potty training is a process by which experience or practice results in a child using the toilet on a regular basis. This relatively permanent change in behavior is known as __________.

A) learning
B) intelligence formation
C) imprinting
D) cognition

Answer 1

learning

Question 2

The primary function of learning is __________.

A) unknown
B) to allow animals to adapt to an ever-changing environment
C) to consciously alter behavior
D) to engage complex thinking in even the simplest behaviors

Answer 2

to allow animals to adapt to an ever-changing environment

Question 3

In studies on human fetuses, habituation was demonstrated as early as 30 weeks. When scientists studied fetuses at 38 weeks, they noticed a change in habituation. Which of the following statements best summarizes the change they noticed in the older fetuses?

A) Older fetuses were less likely to demonstrate habituation to a repeated stimulus.
B) Older fetuses were unable to habituate at all to a repeated stimulus.
C) Older fetuses demonstrated sensitization instead of habituation.
D) Older fetuses displayed habituation for a longer period of time than 30-week-old fetuses.

Answer 3

Older fetuses displayed habituation for a longer period of time than 30-week-old fetuses.

Question 4

Much of the early work on sensitization was done on __________.

A) frogs
B) rats
C) humans
D) sea slugs

Question 5

The acquisition of fears is considered an example of __________.

A) prepared learning
B) one-trial learning
C) classical conditioning
D) behavioral conditioning

Question 6

A fear of __________ may have helped early humans avoid injury or death.

A) rocks
B) snakes
C) fire
D) cats

Question 7

Loretta comes home from her day at high school terribly excited about the report card she has received. She has earned all A's and knows that her parents have promised her $10 for every A that she receives. Which of the following processes is probably taking place in her brain in anticipation of this monetary reward?

A) An increase in noradrenaline activity
B) A decrease in acetylcholine activity
C) An increase in dopamine activity
D) A decrease in insulin activity

Question 8

__________ is the result of two events occurring close together in time, even if they don't have anything in common.

A) Habituation
B) Sensitization
C) Associative learning
D) Observational learning

Question 9

A puff of air is presented to the eye of an animal. The animal reflexively blinks in response to the puff of air. The puff of air is the __________.

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

Question 10

In the context of classical conditioning, UCS stands for __________.

A) unconditioned stimulus
B) uncorrelated stimulus
C) unconventional structure
D) unconditional situation

Question 11

Even though Irma woke up late and ate breakfast at 10 a.m., when she looked at the clock at noon, she decided she felt hungry and wanted to each lunch. In this example, the conditioned response is __________.

A) the act of eating breakfast
B) the act of eating lunch
C) counting the number of hours since breakfast
D) watching the clock

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true in regard to higher-order conditioning?

A) While higher-order conditioning is an interesting phenomenon, there are no real-world applications for this type of conditioning.
B) Higher-order conditioning can only be expanded by one order away from the original stimulus.
C) Higher-order conditioning has only been shown in humans.
D) Higher-order conditioning has been successfully accomplished as far as five orders away from the original stimulus pairing.

Question 13

Jesse's cat has been conditioned that the electric can opener signals the arrival of food, and the cat will run to the kitchen every time it hears the can opener. But Jesse then participates in a project at school where he must open 50 cans of beans and cook them. By the time Jesse gets halfway through the cans, he notices that the cat has disappeared. In this case, the can opener is no longer associated with the presentation of food. __________ to the can opener has occurred.

A) Sensitization
B) Habituation
C) Extinction
D) Spontaneous recovery

Question 14

Dee Dee taught his dog Max to play dead whenever he made the sound of a gun being fired. After a while, Dee Dee got bored with the trick and allowed Max's behavior to extinguish. However, while Dee Dee was watching TV several months later, a small child on the TV began making the sound of a gun with his mouth. Upon hearing the sound, Max rolled over and played dead. Which principle of classical conditioning does this example illustrate?

A) Spontaneous recovery
B) Higher-order conditioning
C) Extinction
D) Stimulus generalization

Question 15

An irrational fear of a thing, an animal, or a social situation is called a(n) __________.

A) extinction
B) phobia
C) stimulus generalization
D) anxiety acquisition

Question 16

In the classic treatment of bedwetting, which aspect of the therapy would be considered the conditioned response?

A) The beep of the pad when moisture strikes it
B) The feeling of a full bladder
C) Going to the bathroom after the bed becomes wet
D) Going to the bathroom before the bed becomes wet

Question 17

When using Antabuse to treat alcoholism, what association is hopefully achieved so the alcoholic can stay away from alcohol?

A) An association between the cost of the drug and taking the drug
B) An association between feeling sick and consuming alcohol
C) An association between the side effects of the drug and staying sober
D) An association between the cost of the drug and feeling sick

Question 18

Learning that applies to involuntary behavior is called __________, while learning that applies to voluntary behavior is called __________.

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

Question 19

A dog blinking its eyes after a flash of light is presented is an example of __________, and a child doing her homework after receiving a gold star from her teacher is an example of __________.

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

Question 20

When training animals, secondary reinforcers are needed. When a delay must occur between the behavior and the reward, often a __________ is used.

A) snack
B) bookmark
C) bridge
D) decoy

Question 21

Mario learned to dance by watching dance shows on TV. He demonstrated __________.

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

Question 22

Scientists have discovered special cells in the brain that become excited when we observe someone else's behavior. These cells are called __________.

A) glial cells
B) Schwann cells
C) mirror neurons
D) mapping neurons

Question 23

In an experiment, rats are exposed to a loud noise. One group is able to escape the noise by pushing a lever. The second group has no lever available and therefore cannot escape the noise. After several trials, both groups are put in situations where they can escape. The first group escapes the noise, but the second group just sits and cowers, refusing to attempt to escape the noise. The response of the second group is due to __________.

A) learned helplessness
B) contingency blocking
C) latent learning
D) response generalization

Question 24

Janet is really fed up with her husband, Paul. He constantly starts projects but rarely finishes them. He has at least ten different tasks that are all currently "in progress." When she asks him when he is going to finish, he is often evasive and makes no commitment, because he is already thinking about starting on something new. It is possible that Paul suffers from __________.

A) obsessive-compulsive disorder
B) attention deficit disorder
C) generalized anxiety disorder
D) histrionic personality disorder

Question 25

Learning disabilities are largely due to __________.

A) a lack of effort from the learner
B) incompetence in the learner
C) ignorance on the part of the learner
D) genetics

Question 26

What was the purpose of the classic study conducted by Skinner that investigated superstitious behaviors in pigeons?

A) Skinner wanted to demonstrate that a "human" cognitive characteristic like superstition could be produced in an animal using operant principles.
B) Skinner wanted to show that pecking at a disk in a cage could be trained as a superstitious behavior.
C) Skinner wanted to show that punishment would shape superstitious behavior faster than reinforcement.
D) Skinner wanted to investigate if superstitious behavior could be trained using higher-order conditioning.

Question 27

In Skinner's study on superstitious behavior in pigeons, the animals were reinforced __________.

A) every time they turned to the left
B) every 15 seconds
C) every fourth time they bobbed their head
D) only if they rocked back and forth

Question 28

What conclusion can be drawn from the study run by Skinner on superstitious behavior in pigeons?

A) Pigeons will exhibit superstitious behaviors just like humans.
B) Pigeons do not have the cognition to establish superstitious behaviors.
C) Pigeon behavior is not complicated enough to create a superstitious behavior.
D) While pigeons will exhibit superstitious behavior, the behaviors they display will not be part of their normal behavior.

Question 29

Compare and contrast habituation and sensitization, and provide an example of each.

Question 30

In what ways might higher-order conditioning be used by advertisers to get us to buy their products?

Question 31

Compare and contrast the schedules of partial reinforcement, and comment on which schedule would be most likely to result in lasting behavioral change.

Question 32

After bringing home a new cat, you quickly realize that you don't enjoy emptying the litter box every few days. In order to avoid this odious task, you decide to attempt to train your pet to use the toilet. Thoroughly discuss the steps you would use to train the animal, making sure to note which type of learning is being employed.

Question 33

Discuss the concept of observational learning, especially as it applies to children and violent media such as television, movies, the Internet, and video games. Make sure to include a discussion of relevant findings covered in the textbook.

Question 34

Discuss what an "enriched environment" would look like for a child who is getting ready to go to school, and comment on how the presence or absence of such a setting might impact the likelihood that a child would develop a learning disorder.

Question 35

Describe the causes, symptoms, and potential outcomes for someone with specific learning disorder.