Question 1

Extinction involves a strengthening of the conditioned response.

Accepted Answer

Extinction involves the gradual weakening or elimination of a conditioned response as the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus. The opposite of extinction, where the conditioned response is strengthened, is known as acquisition.

Question 2

Through the process of classical conditioning, service dogs can be trained to do a variety of household tasks.

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Question 3

Describe Kohler's "stick problem" and "box problem". Why were these problems important to learning theorists?

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Question 4

How might you research the connection between dopamine and operant conditioning if you had some human volunteers who gave informed consent and were found to have lowered levels of this neurotransmitter? What things might you try in an experiment?

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Question 5

Negative punishment and negative reinforcement have the same impact on behavior.

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment involves taking away a desirable stimulus in order to decrease a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves taking away an aversive stimulus in order to increase a behavior. They have opposite effects on behavior.

Question 6

Your fraternity brother knows that you are a psychology major and asks you to explain to him why he keeps going back to smoking no matter how many times he quits the habit. Describe in detail the classical conditioning components involved in smoking (the CS, UCS, CR, and UCR) and discuss how spontaneous recovery can cause the reoccurrence of the smoking habit.

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Question 7

A drug user doing drugs in a new environment is at risk of drug overdose due to the principles of classical conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves the association of a previously neutral stimulus with a specific behavior or response. When a drug user is in a new environment, the previously neutral stimuli in that environment (such as different lighting or sounds) may trigger the drug user's conditioned response to the drug, leading to a potential overdose. This is because the drug user's body is used to the drug being taken in a particular environment and may not be able to handle the new environment plus the drug.

Question 8

Learned helplessness is the belief that you are either smart or not, and no amount of work can make up for the difference.

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is the belief that your efforts do not matter and that your situation is beyond your control, but it does not necessarily equate to a fixed mindset where intelligence is seen as a fixed trait.

Question 9

Provide one example of vicarious reinforcement and one example of vicarious punishment.

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Question 10

Operant conditioning explains why we raise our hands in class.

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Question 11

Contrast latent learning and insight learning.

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Question 12

Early on in your first psychology course, you discover that many behavioral principles are based on animal research. What is the basic premise for animal studies in behavioral psychology and who is best associated with this position?

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Question 13

Both negative reinforcers and positive reinforcers have the same impact on behavior.

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Question 14

A CS should be a reliable predictor of the UCS.

Accepted Answer

A conditioned stimulus (CS) should be a reliable predictor of an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in order for classical conditioning to occur. This means that when the CS is presented, it should consistently be followed by the presentation of the UCS. If the CS is not a reliable predictor of the UCS, classical conditioning is unlikely to occur.

Question 15

Define the term "mindset" and distinguish between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Which would you prefer to have and why?

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Question 16

What are some reasons why parents should avoid spanking their children or using other types of corporal punishment?

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Question 17

What has recent neuroscientific research found relative to the operant conditioning principle of reinforcement of behaviors? What neurotransmitter plays a key role in reinforcement?

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Question 18

After finishing a big project, your parent's give you a gift certificate to your favorite store. The gift certificate is an example of a primary reinforcer.

Accepted Answer

A gift certificate is a secondary reinforcer because it is a learned reward that is associated with primary reinforcers like food or other basic needs.

Question 19

The terms "reward" and "positive reinforcement" always refer to the same process and should have the same outcomes.

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Question 20

Little Phil, who received a shot from the nurse the last time he was at the clinic, begins to cry when the nurse walks out and calls his name. Provide a rationale for his behavior based on classical conditioning principles.

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Quiz 6: Learning