Deck 8: How Learning Shapes Behavior

Question 1

__________ involves administering something aversive after an unwanted behavior occurs.

A) Positive reinforcement
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Positive punishment
D) Negative punishment

Answer 1

Positive punishment

Question 2

Servers in restaurants typically get paid an hourly wage (from the company) plus tips (from various customers). This type of compensation plan would be a combination of __________.

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

Answer 2

fixed-interval and variable-ratio reinforcement

Question 3

Mitch cleans his room. His mom gives him a dollar so that he can buy a treat from the corner store. This is an example of __________.

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

Answer 3

positive reinforcement

Question 4

Nagging someone to do something until they do it is an example of __________.

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

Question 5

Ramon refuses to eat his vegetables. His parents send him to bed without any dinner. What type of behavior modification is being used in this scenario?

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

Question 6

Which situation involves positive punishment through the use of natural consequences?

A) putting Suzy in time-out after she hits her brother
B) taking Suzy's cell phone away after she talks back
C) making Suzy get out of the pool after she dunks her little sister
D) making Suzy pick up the marbles that she purposely scattered on the floor

Question 7

Which term do learning theorists use to describe the process of shaping behavior through the administration of rewards and punishments?

A) operant conditioning
B) classical conditioning
C) instrumental conditioning
D) socialization

Question 8

Diego is afraid of caterpillars. He won't even watch a nature show on TV about them. When he sees a picture of a caterpillar, he has a panic attack, but when he avoids looking at the image, his panic goes away. Diego's avoidance of caterpillars is being __________.

A) extinguished, because he feels anxious after doing so
B) enhanced, because he will never get better
C) positively reinforced, because he is rewarded by his anxiety going down
D) negatively reinforced, because he is rewarded by his anxiety going down

Question 9

Giving out rewards for good behavior at certain intervals is known as a __________ schedule.

A) continuous reinforcement
B) partial reinforcement
C) reinforcement
D) fixed reinforcement

Question 10

Which partial reinforcement schedule involves giving out a reward after a certain number of behaviors have occurred?

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

Question 11

Julie wants her professor to call on her during class. Every time he looks in her direction after asking a question, Julie gives him a big smile. This is an example of a __________ schedule.

A) continuous reinforcement
B) reinforcement
C) partial reinforcement
D) fixed-interval reinforcement

Question 12

Stopping bad behavior by taking away something good involves the application of __________.

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

Question 13

Which psychological perspective explains behavior with no reference to the inner workings of the mind?

A) psychoanalysis
B) humanism
C) social learning theory
D) behaviorism

Question 14

When something bad is taken away but a desired behavior is nonetheless rewarded, the process of __________ has occurred.

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

Question 15

Why is behavior a cornerstone of any theory of personality?

A) Judging behavior is the only way to determine the test-retest reliability of traits.
B) Personality only manifests itself through behavior.
C) Personality is linked to behavior, but not genetics, the brain, or emotion.
D) All personality theories arose during the behaviorist movement.

Question 16

Which researcher conducted groundbreaking experiments on operant conditioning using animals to investigate the application of positive reinforcement?

A) Carl Rogers
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) Abraham Maslow
D) B. F. Skinner

Question 17

What is the most effective method for shaping behavior?

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

Question 18

At the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., a polar bear suffered a broken tooth, and keepers needed a safe way of treating the problem. The bear was rewarded first for sticking its nose through a slot in the cage door, then for allowing a keeper to lift its lip and touch its teeth. Finally, a veterinarian was able to treat the damaged tooth while the bear waited placidly for its familiar reward. This is an example of _______.

A) positive punishment
B) shaping
C) negative reinforcement
D) secondary learning

Question 19

Which psychological perspective maintained an important role for environmental influences but posed a direct challenge to traditional behaviorism?

A) social learning theory
B) neuropsychology
C) trait theory
D) psychoanalysis

Question 20

Billy receives all A's on his report card. His parents buy him the video game that he has been asking for. This is an example of a __________.

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

Question 21

Lila doesn't like her personality psychology class because the instructor uses unannounced pop exams to test the students. As a result, Lila never knows when she will be tested. Her instructor is testing her on a __________ schedule.

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

Question 22

Which statement is correct regarding behavior modification?

A) It involves the process of shaping.
B) It is useful only for teaching autistic children.
C) It is different from operant conditioning.
D) It cannot be used with animals.

Question 23

The term __________ refers to the application of operant conditioning to improve behavior.

A) social learning
B) classical conditioning
C) behavior modification
D) behavioral activation

Question 24

Delilah is the shy, retiring type-a classic introvert. She is happy in the company of books and her own thoughts. According to the principles of reciprocal determinism, how will Delilah's personality characteristics relate to the environments she seeks?

A) Delilah will seek stimulating environments, such as concerts or crowded theme parks, to counterbalance her dispositional qualities.
B) Delilah will seek environments such as libraries, quiet cafes, or secluded parks, which will in turn reinforce her introverted tendencies.
C) Delilah will seek behaviorally neutral environments, so she can focus on introspection and self-examination.
D) Delilah's personality characteristics will be unrelated to the environments she seeks, as personality is an internal dimension and environments refer to the external world.

Question 25

Which statement is true about operant conditioning?

A) Neither partial nor continuous reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist for long periods of time.
B) Continuous reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through partial or intermittent reinforcement.
C) Partial reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through continuous reinforcement.
D) Continuous reinforcement and partial reinforcement lead to behaviors that persist for equally long periods of time.

Question 26

The process through which children gradually learn to become mature members of society is known as __________.

A) habituation
B) systematic desensitization
C) operant conditioning
D) socialization

Question 27

__________ reinforcement is the partial reinforcement schedule in which a reward is given out after a random number of behaviors has occurred.

A) Fixed-ratio
B) Variable-ratio
C) Fixed-interval
D) Variable-interval

Question 28

In which partial reinforcement schedule is a reward given out after a random amount of time has passed?

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

Question 29

Owen is neurotic, distrustful, and a little bit paranoid. Wary would be an excellent word to describe his personality. According to the principles of reciprocal determinism, how will the environments Owen gravitates toward influence the behaviors he exhibits?

A) Owen is likely to seek secure environments (such as his locked bedroom), which in turn will reinforce his behaviors (avoiding interactions with others).
B) Owen is likely to seek emotionally neutral environments (such as a national park), which in turn will allow him to align his behaviors with his personality.
C) Owen is likely to seek uncertain environments (such as sprawling, crowded events) so he can sharpen his detection skills (noting malicious intent in others).
D) Owen is likely to seek uncontrolled environments (such as underground dance parties) so he can confirm his suspicious conclusions (that others are out to get him).

Question 30

__________ implied that behavior modification could be used to create a utopian society in which no one is aggressive or violent.

A) John Watson
B) B. F. Skinner
C) Carl Rogers
D) Abraham Maslow

Question 31

Hailey's second-grade teacher rewards the kids in the class by giving them blue cards every time they are caught "doing something good." Hailey needs just three more cards before she can go to the treasure box to choose a prize. Hailey's teacher is using what kind of system in her class?

A) behavioral activation system
B) conditioned stimulus
C) systematic desensitization
D) token economy

Question 32

Learning that occurs when someone watches others get rewarded or punished for behavior is known as __________.

A) operant conditioning
B) social learning
C) classical conditioning
D) variable-ratio reinforcement

Question 33

Nine-year-old Stephanie is helping her family get ready for a Thanksgiving by polishing the good silverware. If her mother gives Stephanie a quarter for every three pieces she polishes, what kind of reinforcement schedule is her mother using?

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

Question 34

Which theorist was the primary proponent of the social learning approach?

A) Carl Rogers
B) Edward Thorndike
C) Albert Bandura
D) B. F. Skinner

Question 35

A __________ is a program in which good behavior is rewarded with vouchers that can be exchanged for privileges.

A) token economy
B) conditioned stimulus
C) systematic desensitization plan
D) behavioral activation system

Question 36

According to the principles of reciprocal determinism, how are personality and behavior related?

A) Personality causes behavior to happen.
B) Personality affects behavior but only through the intercession of the environment.
C) Personality influences behavior, and behavior helps shape personality.
D) Behavior produces personality.

Question 37

__________ proposed that regardless of genetics, he could use the environment to shape children into any type of person he chose.

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Abraham Maslow
C) Ivan Pavlov
D) John Watson

Question 38

A bidirectional relationship exists between personality, behavior, and the environment. This relationship is called __________ .

A) locus of control
B) self-efficacy
C) outcome expectancy
D) reciprocal determinism

Question 39

The partial reinforcement schedule that involves giving out a reward after a certain amount of time has passed is known as __________ reinforcement.

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

Question 40

The therapy in which depressed people are encouraged to do specific things that will lead to rewards based on values that are important to them is known as __________.

A) operant conditioning
B) classical conditioning
C) behavior modification
D) behavioral activation

Question 41

What was the name of the baby that John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner used in their experiment?

A) Little Albert
B) Little Walter
C) Tiny Alice
D) Little Milton

Question 42

Narrowing the conditions that produce a conditioned response is known as __________.

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

Question 43

In the Little Albert experiment, the conditioned response (CR) was __________.

A) the white rat
B) the loud noise
C) looking at Rosalie Rayner
D) crying

Question 44

In the Little Albert experiment, the fear-producing stimulus used as a UCS was the __________.

A) white rat
B) loud noise
C) fear of the rat
D) fear of the noise

Question 45

People with a(n) __________ believe that they can control a situation, their own rewards, and, therefore, their own fate.

A) self-actualized potential
B) internal locus of control
C) external locus of control
D) variable reinforcement schedule

Question 46

What would you predict about Little Albert based on the principle of spontaneous recovery?

A) Even after his fear of a rat was extinguished, the fear could come back.
B) After his fear of loud noises was extinguished, the fear could come back.
C) His fear of rats would disappear if he saw a rat without hearing a loud noise.
D) His fear of loud noises would disappear if he heard a loud noise without a rat present.

Question 47

A treatment for phobias that attempts to reduce fear in many small steps by associating the feared thing with calmness is called __________.

A) systematic sensitization
B) generalization
C) systematic desensitization
D) progressive sensation

Question 48

What was Ivan Pavlov originally studying when he stumbled on the principles of classical conditioning?

A) digestion in dogs
B) the Bobo doll
C) pigeons in a box
D) mice in a maze

Question 49

The basis of __________ conditioning is associating things that are not normally associated with each other.

A) consistent
B) stimuli
C) classical
D) response

Question 50

In Pavlov's experiment, the dog salivating to a bell is an example of a(n) __________.

A) unconditioned response (UCR)
B) conditioned response (CR)
C) unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
D) conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 51

Egon refuses to wear a seatbelt when he drives his car or even when he is a passenger. "If it's my time to die, it's my time to die," he claims, "and there's nothing I can do to change that." What does Egon's perception indicate?

A) an external locus of control
B) self-actualization
C) fixed-interval reinforcement
D) an internal locus of control

Question 52

The process of getting used to something in the environment and not responding as strongly to it anymore is known as __________.

A) discrimination
B) habituation
C) extinction
D) spontaneous recovery

Question 53

Who discovered the basic principles of classical conditioning?

A) Albert Bandura
B) John B. Watson
C) Edward Thorndike
D) Ivan Pavlov

Question 54

__________ is/are beliefs about how often actions lead to rewards versus punishment.

A) Reinforcement value
B) External locus of control
C) Internal locus of control
D) Generalized expectancies

Question 55

In Pavlov's experiment, the dog salivating to food is an example of a(n) __________.

A) unconditioned response (UCR)
B) conditioned response (CR)
C) unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
D) conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 56

Expectancies are __________.

A) beliefs about how often actions lead to rewards versus punishment
B) based on one's past experiences of what was rewarding
C) determinations of how enticing a particular reward is
D) beliefs that one's actions are determined by one's personality

Question 57

In Pavlov's experiment, the dog food is an example of a(n) __________.

A) unconditioned response (UCR)
B) unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
C) conditioned stimulus (CS)
D) conditioned response (CR)

Question 58

__________ are intense fears of a specific thing.

A) Habits
B) Phobias
C) Generalizations
D) Reinforcements

Question 59

Shondrelle has recently taken up racquetball, and she recognizes that it is a game that requires more skill than luck. Based on that recognition, what is Shondrelle likely to do as she pursues this sport?

A) devote effort to improve her performance
B) find ways to increase her chances of lucky wins and trick shots
C) realize that she can't control the outcomes of her games
D) give up fairly quickly, as she grasps that she can't influence her performance

Question 60

The baby in Watson and Rayner's experiment showed fear when a white rabbit, white dog, and white fur coat were presented to him. This is an example of __________.

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

Question 61

What is a token economy?

Question 62

Why is positive reinforcement more effective than punishment?

Question 63

How can classical conditioning principles be applied to getting a better night's sleep?

Question 64

Give an example of classical conditioning related to food or drink.

Question 65

Gregory has an extreme fear of frogs. What are some classical conditioning techniques that may help Gregory with his fear?

Question 66

Roxanne's new apartment is close to the fire station downtown. At first, she has trouble sleeping at night because every time the trucks go out, the noise wakes her. After a few days she has gotten used to it. What has Roxanne experienced?

Question 67

List four ways to modify behavior and give an example of how you can use each way to increase your studying or decrease your time off-task.

Question 68

What is "reciprocal" about reciprocal determinism?

Question 69

Why should parents not give their crying child candy at the checkout counter in a store?

Question 70

How can someone's external locus of control affect his or her personality?

Question 71

You are trying to decide whether you should go to a friend's party. As you consider this, you remember that in the past, you have had fun at her parties. What did Julian Rotter call these considerations?

Question 72

How does behavior modification work for addictions, such as an addiction to alcohol?

Question 73

What is the difference between a continuous reinforcement schedule and a partial reinforcement schedule?

Question 74

How would the process of negative reinforcement encourage a person to use sunblock when heading to the beach?

Question 75

Give an example of positive reinforcement.

Question 76

Alejandro is in therapy to learn how to cope with his snake phobia. Alejandro's counselor is slowly getting him ready for the day when he can be in the same room as a snake without experiencing significant distress. What is the treatment for phobias called that attempts to reduce fear in small steps?

Question 77

What is a reinforcement schedule?

Question 78

What are four ways behavior can be modified using the principles of operant conditioning?

Question 79

Why are variable-ratio reinforcement schedules effective in maintaining behavior?

Question 80

How does having an internal locus of control affect academic performance?