Question 1

Which of the following have been established through classical conditioning?
A) fears
B) word meaning
C) attitudes
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning, a learning process first described by Ivan Pavlov, has been shown to play a role in the development of fears (by associating a neutral stimulus with a frightening one), the understanding of word meaning (by pairing words with objects or concepts), and the formation of attitudes (by associating objects or concepts with positive or negative emotions or outcomes).

Question 2

In the "Little Albert" research, the child eventually appeared afraid of Santa Claus. This is an example of __________.
A) stimulus generalization
B) semantic generalization
C) observational learning
D) language

Accepted Answer

This is an example of stimulus generalization, where Albert generalized his fear response from the conditioned stimulus (a white rat) to similar stimuli (like Santa Claus's white beard).

Question 3

Mary Cover Jones (1924) was able to eliminate Peter's rabbit phobia by
A) gradually moving the rabbit closer and closer.
B) pairing the presentation of the rabbit with Peter's favorite food.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b

Accepted Answer

Mary Cover Jones used a method known as counterconditioning to eliminate Peter's rabbit phobia by gradually moving the rabbit closer to him (a form of desensitization) while simultaneously pairing the presence of the rabbit with positive stimuli, such as his favorite food. This combination of techniques is what led to the successful treatment of Peter's phobia.

Question 4

Susan Mineka showed that it was possible to establish the fear of snakes in monkeys through __________.
A) classical conditioning
B) instrumental conditioning
C) observational learning
D) language

Accepted Answer

Susan Mineka's research demonstrated that monkeys could acquire a fear of snakes through observational learning, by observing other monkeys reacting fearfully to snakes.

Question 5

A person's mouth waters when reading about food. This is an example of __________.
A) stimulus generalization
B) semantic generalization
C) observational learning
D) language

Accepted Answer

Semantic generalization occurs when a response is elicited by stimuli that are similar in meaning to the original conditioned stimulus, such as words related to food causing salivation.

Question 6

A sickness inducing drug is paired with alcoholic beverages in order to reduce problem drinking. This is an example of __________.
A) sensitization
B) desensitization
C) observational learning
D) stimulus generalization

Accepted Answer

This is an example of sensitization, where the pairing of a sickness-inducing drug with alcoholic beverages is intended to increase the negative response to alcohol, thereby reducing problem drinking.

Question 7

Research with humans suggests that it would be __________ to establish a fear to a snake than (as) an electrical outlet.
A) easier
B) more difficult
C) just as difficult
D) more important

Accepted Answer

Research in psychology has shown that humans are more readily conditioned to fear natural dangers, such as snakes, which have been a threat throughout evolutionary history, than modern, artificial dangers like electrical outlets. This is due to evolutionary predispositions to fear objects or situations that have historically been a threat to survival.

Quiz 5: Predictive Learning: Applications

Which of the following have been established through classical conditioning?

In the "Little Albert" research, the child eventually appeared afraid of Santa Claus. This is an example of __________.

Mary Cover Jones (1924) was able to eliminate Peter's rabbit phobia by

Susan Mineka showed that it was possible to establish the fear of snakes in monkeys through __________.

A person's mouth waters when reading about food. This is an example of __________.

A sickness inducing drug is paired with alcoholic beverages in order to reduce problem drinking. This is an example of __________.

Research with humans suggests that it would be __________ to establish a fear to a snake than (as) an electrical outlet.