Question 1

Ashley grew up fearing clowns because of an incident early in her life. Although it took several years before the fear disappeared completely, she can now enjoy the entertainment that clowns offer. Her fear of clowns has undergone ____.
A) dismissal
B) dishabituation
C) extinction
D) stimulus generalization

Accepted Answer

Extinction refers to the process of reducing a behavior or association by repeatedly exposing an individual to the stimulus without any negative consequences. In Ashley's case, her fear of clowns has undergone extinction because through repeated exposure without any harm, her fear gradually decreased and eventually disappeared. Choice A, “dismissal,” choice B, “dishabituation,” and choice D, “stimulus generalization,” are not appropriate options in this scenario.

Question 2

Psychologists have taught children to like healthful vegetables by pairing new vegetable flavors with the flavor of sugar to produce liking. Specifically, they are using ____.
A) stimulus discrimination
B) habituation
C) extinction
D) classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is classical conditioning, which involves pairing a neutral stimulus (in this case, a new vegetable flavor) with a well-established stimulus that produces a desired response (in this case, the flavor of sugar). Over time, the neutral stimulus takes on its own positive associations and elicits a liking response, even in the absence of the well-established stimulus.

Question 3

Aversion therapy that uses disulfiram to treat alcoholism is based on the principle of ____.
A) classical conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) social learning
D) observational conditioning

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy is a form of classical conditioning that involves pairing a stimulus (such as drinking alcohol) with an unpleasant response (such as feeling ill from taking disulfiram). Over time, the individual learns to associate the negative consequences with the drinking behavior and may be less likely to engage in it.

Question 4

Taste aversions provide an "exception to the rule" in classical conditioning because they ____.
A) seem to require the neutral stimulus to immediately precede the unconditioned stimulus
B) can result from a single pairing of the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus
C) result in learning that is usually very temporary
D) appear to only occur within humans

Accepted Answer

Taste aversions are an exception to the rule in classical conditioning because they can develop after only one pairing of a neutral stimulus (such as a food) with an unconditioned stimulus (such as nausea or illness). This is unlike other forms of classical conditioning where many trials are needed for learning to occur.

Question 5

Stimulus discrimination should lead to ____.
A) fewer varieties of a stimulus that cause a conditioned response
B) more varieties of a stimulus that cause a conditioned response
C) fewer varieties of responses from a conditioned stimulus
D) more varieties of responses from a conditioned stimulus

Accepted Answer

Stimulus discrimination occurs when an organism learns to respond differently to various stimuli that are similar. It leads to fewer varieties of a stimulus causing a conditioned response because the organism distinguishes between the stimuli and only responds to the specific one associated with the conditioned response.

Question 6

While on vacation, Juana eats bologna and then suffers an attack of car sickness. Now, when Juana even thinks of bologna, she feels sick to her stomach. How can Juana get to the point where she can once again eat bologna without feeling sick?
A) She can never again eat bologna without feeling sick.
B) She should eat a bologna sandwich right before she rides the rollercoaster at the local amusement park.
C) She should resume eating bologna in situations where she is not likely to get sick.
D) She should continue to avoid bologna and eventually she will start liking it again.

Accepted Answer

This is a type of exposure therapy where the person gradually exposes themselves to the feared stimulus in a safe environment until the fear subsides. By resuming eating bologna in situations where she is less likely to get sick, Juana can gradually desensitize herself to the association between bologna and sickness. It is important to start with small steps and gradually increase exposure until she can eventually eat bologna without feeling sick. Option A is not true for everyone as fear conditioning can be unlearned. Option B is not a safe or practical approach. Option D is not a reliable or evidence-based approach to overcome phobias.

Question 7

Susanna has been classically conditioned to feel anxiety every time she walks through the anti-theft security devices at a local store because in the past she has set off the alarm many times when clerks failed to demagnetize her purchases. Susanna has the best chance of eliminating her classically conditioned anxiety by ____.
A) never going to that store again
B) setting off the alarm as many times as she can so that she gets used to it
C) demanding that the store compensate her for her anxiety
D) repeatedly walking through the devices without setting off the alarm

Accepted Answer

The best way for Susanna to eliminate her classically conditioned anxiety is through systematic desensitization. This involves repeatedly exposing herself to the anxiety-provoking stimulus (walking through the anti-theft security devices) without experiencing the negative consequence (setting off the alarm). Over time, the anxiety response will weaken and eventually disappear. Therefore, repeatedly walking through the devices without setting off the alarm (choice D) is the best option. Avoiding the store altogether (choice A) or demanding compensation (choice C) do not address the root of the problem and may actually reinforce Susanna's anxiety. Setting off the alarm intentionally (choice B) may desensitize Susanna to the alarm sound but could worsen her anxiety towards the security devices.

Question 8

If you have developed an extreme negative reaction to chicken because it was associated with a case of the flu in your childhood, you have a ____.
A) observationally conditioned taste sensation
B) classically conditioned taste aversion
C) operantly conditioned taste response
D) operantly conditioned nausea aversion

Accepted Answer

Classically conditioned taste aversion is when an individual develops a negative reaction to a food or taste after associating it with an illness or negative experience. In this case, the association between chicken and the flu in childhood would lead to a negative reaction towards chicken. This is a classic example of taste aversion.

Question 9

If Little Albert had developed a fear of large white rats, but not of small white rats, psychologists would label that an example of ____.
A) extinction
B) counter-conditioning
C) stimulus generalization
D) stimulus discrimination

Accepted Answer

Stimulus discrimination refers to the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond differently to them. In this case, Little Albert's fear of the large white rat but not the small white rat suggests that he was able to discriminate between these two stimuli.

Question 10

When treating alcoholism with aversion therapy, the drug called disulfiram is used as the ____.
A) conditioned stimulus
B) unconditioned response
C) unconditioned stimulus
D) neutral stimulus

Accepted Answer

In aversion therapy, disulfiram is used as an unconditioned stimulus, meaning it produces an unconditioned response (nausea) that is intended to create a negative association with alcohol consumption. If the individual drinks alcohol while taking disulfiram, they will experience unpleasant physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and even heart palpitations. This is meant to deter the individual from drinking or to help them associate alcohol with negative consequences.

Question 11

The genetic tendency to learn certain responses very easily is called ____.
A) acquisition
B) physiological cognition
C) biological conditioning
D) biological preparedness

Accepted Answer

Biological preparedness refers to the genetic predisposition to learn certain responses easily. This notion was proposed to explain why some phobias, such as fear of snakes or spiders, are much more common than others. It is thought that, throughout evolution, humans developed a biological readiness to acquire certain fears as they posed a significant threat to survival. Therefore, individuals are believed to be predisposed to learn and retain certain types of fears more easily than others. The other options do not refer specifically to this concept.

Question 12

In nonhuman animals, a taste aversion that is learned following a 10-hour gap between the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus would ____.
A) be very unusual
B) be impossible
C) be typical
D) technically not be a result of classical conditioning

Accepted Answer

Taste aversion can occur even with a long delay between the neutral stimulus (taste) and the unconditioned stimulus (illness), which is typical in nonhuman animals and is an exception to the usual short interval required in classical conditioning.

Question 13

When disulfiram is used to treat alcoholism through aversion therapy, the neutral stimulus in this classical conditioning example is ____.
A) disulfiram
B) nausea
C) the drug
D) alcohol

Accepted Answer

The neutral stimulus in this classical conditioning example is alcohol, as it is paired with the aversive stimulus (nausea) caused by disulfiram. Over time, the individual learns to associate the taste or smell of alcohol with the unpleasant physical reaction, which can help reduce their desire to drink. Disulfiram is the aversive stimulus, not the neutral stimulus.

Question 14

In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the ____.
A) neutral stimulus is presented without the conditioned stimulus
B) unconditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned response
C) conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus
D) conditioned stimulus is presented without the conditioned response

Accepted Answer

Extinction in classical conditioning occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (US), leading to a decrease in the conditioned response over time.

Question 15

Tad's ex-girlfriend used to wear a rose-scented perfume. Since their bitter breakup, Tad has found that he feels angry whenever he smells this rose-scented perfume. In order for Tad to get to the point where smelling this perfume will no longer make him feel angry, he should ______.
A) avoid contact with his ex-girlfriend for at least six months
B) frequently go to the local perfume counter and smell the rose-scented perfume
C) focus on how angry he is at his ex-girlfriend
D) find a new girlfriend

Accepted Answer

This is an example of classical conditioning, where Tad has associated the rose scent with his negative feelings towards his ex-girlfriend. By frequently exposing himself to the rose scent without the negative outcome (his ex-girlfriend), he can undergo extinction, where the conditioned response (anger) to the conditioned stimulus (rose scent) diminishes over time.

Question 16

Compared to other classically conditioned responses, taste aversions are unique in that ____.
A) the time interval between the US and the UR can be very long
B) the time interval between the US and the NS is quite short
C) they often occur after only a single pairing of the NS and the US
D) an above average number of pairings are needed

Accepted Answer

Taste aversions can occur after only a single pairing of the NS (food/drink) and the US (sickness), which is known as the one-trial learning phenomenon. This is in contrast to other types of classical conditioning, which typically require multiple pairings before conditioning occurs. Additionally, taste aversions can occur even when the time interval between the NS and the US is quite long, meaning that the aversion is not dependent on the timing of the stimuli as much as the content of the stimuli.

Question 17

When a classically conditioned response is no longer exhibited, ____.
A) acquisition has occurred
B) the conditioned stimulus goes back to being a neutral stimulus
C) spontaneous recovery has occurred
D) the relationship between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus has been broken

Accepted Answer

The conditioned response stops when the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus is broken, a process known as extinction.

Question 18

When a conditioned stimulus no longer produces a conditioned response, ____ has occurred.
A) acquisition
B) extinction
C) stimulus generalization
D) punishment

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the process of gradually reducing or eliminating a learned response by no longer pairing the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus. This results in the conditioned stimulus no longer producing the conditioned response. Acquisition refers to the initial learning of the association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, stimulus generalization occurs when similar stimuli elicit the same response, and punishment involves the presentation of an aversive stimulus to decrease the frequency of a behavior.

Question 19

The phase of classical conditioning during which the conditioned response is developing is often referred to as ____.
A) extinction
B) acquisition
C) counter conditioning
D) spontaneous recovery

Accepted Answer

Acquisition is the phase of classical conditioning during which the conditioned response is developing. During this phase, a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus until it elicits the desired response on its own. Extinction refers to the weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response. Counter conditioning involves pairing the conditioned stimulus with a new, positive response to replace the old, negative response. Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of time.

Question 20

Aversion therapy to treat alcoholism is ____.
A) one of the most successful techniques developed for this problem
B) only modestly successful
C) successful only if the drinker has been drinking for many years
D) not successful at all

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy has been found to have only modest success in treating alcoholism. It involves pairing the consumption of alcohol with an unpleasant stimulus, such as a foul-tasting or nauseating substance, in order to create a negative association with drinking. However, the effectiveness of aversion therapy depends on various individual factors, such as the severity of the person's alcoholism and their motivation to change. It is not considered a universally successful technique for treating alcoholism.

Quiz 6: Learning

Ashley grew up fearing clowns because of an incident early in her life. Although it took several years before the fear disappeared completely, she can now enjoy the entertainment that clowns offer. Her fear of clowns has undergone ____.

Psychologists have taught children to like healthful vegetables by pairing new vegetable flavors with the flavor of sugar to produce liking. Specifically, they are using ____.

Aversion therapy that uses disulfiram to treat alcoholism is based on the principle of ____.

Taste aversions provide an "exception to the rule" in classical conditioning because they ____.

Stimulus discrimination should lead to ____.

While on vacation, Juana eats bologna and then suffers an attack of car sickness. Now, when Juana even thinks of bologna, she feels sick to her stomach. How can Juana get to the point where she can once again eat bologna without feeling sick?

If you have developed an extreme negative reaction to chicken because it was associated with a case of the flu in your childhood, you have a ____.

If Little Albert had developed a fear of large white rats, but not of small white rats, psychologists would label that an example of ____.

When treating alcoholism with aversion therapy, the drug called disulfiram is used as the ____.

The genetic tendency to learn certain responses very easily is called ____.

In nonhuman animals, a taste aversion that is learned following a 10-hour gap between the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus would ____.

When disulfiram is used to treat alcoholism through aversion therapy, the neutral stimulus in this classical conditioning example is ____.

In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the ____.

Tad's ex-girlfriend used to wear a rose-scented perfume. Since their bitter breakup, Tad has found that he feels angry whenever he smells this rose-scented perfume. In order for Tad to get to the point where smelling this perfume will no longer make him feel angry, he should ______.

Compared to other classically conditioned responses, taste aversions are unique in that ____.

When a classically conditioned response is no longer exhibited, ____.

When a conditioned stimulus no longer produces a conditioned response, ____ has occurred.

The phase of classical conditioning during which the conditioned response is developing is often referred to as ____.

Aversion therapy to treat alcoholism is ____.