Question 1

In operant conditioning,
A)the consequences of behavior produce change in the probability of the occurrence of the behavior.
B)which is a form of respondent behavior, behavior occurs in automatic response to a stimulus.
C)neutral stimuli become associated with unlearned, involuntary responses.
D)behavior is a consequence of the conditioned stimulus (CS).

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is all about the consequences of behavior. It is a type of learning where the probability of a behavior occurring is changed by the consequences that follow that behavior. These consequences can be positive (rewards) or negative (punishments), and they affect whether the behavior will be repeated in the future.

Question 2

Classical conditioning helps to explain _____, which refers to the decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations.
A)immunosuppression
B)habituation
C)aversive conditioning
D)counterconditioning

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning helps to explain habituation, which refers to the decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations. Immunosuppression is a decrease in the immune response, aversive conditioning is a type of conditioning in which an unpleasant stimulus is associated with an unwanted behavior, and counterconditioning is a therapy technique used to replace an unwanted response to a stimulus with a more desired response.

Question 3

According to Thorndike's law of effect,
A)species-specific biological predispositions favor some learning styles over others.
B)behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are strengthened and behaviors followed by frustrating outcomes are weakened.
C)negative behaviors can be easily extinguished through classical conditioning.
D)an organism will recover a previously conditioned response when placed in a novel context.

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's law of effect states that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are strengthened and behaviors followed by frustrating outcomes are weakened. This means that the consequences of an action determine the likelihood of that behavior being repeated or not.

Question 4

_____ is a form of treatment that involves repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.
A)Instinctive drift
B)Aversive conditioning
C)Expectancy learning
D)Generalizing

Accepted Answer

Aversive conditioning involves pairing a stimulus with an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. The other options listed do not involve this specific kind of treatment.

Question 5

While watching television, you can see how advertisers cunningly apply classical-conditioning principles to consumers by showing ads that pair something pleasant with a product in hope that you, the viewer, will experience those positive feelings toward the product.In this situation, the product is the
A)unconditioned response.
B)conditioned response.
C)unconditioned stimulus.
D)conditioned stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The product is the conditioned stimulus because it is being paired with something pleasant (unconditioned stimulus) in the hopes that the viewer will eventually associate the product with those positive feelings (conditioned response).

Question 6

Which of the following helps to explain drug habituation?
A)operant conditioning
B)latent learning
C)classical conditioning
D)discovery learning

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves learning to associate a neutral stimulus with a reflex response, such as drug effects. Over time, habituation occurs as the body becomes less responsive to the drug due to repeated exposure.

Question 7

Some bears kept in the zoo allow veterinarians to routinely give them total body checkups.These bears open their mouths for teeth cleaning and present their paws for nail clipping.Your friend wonders how anyone could ever get these dangerous animals to be so cooperative without anesthesia.You, however, a psychology student, quickly surmise that the bears had most likely undergone
A)discovery learning.
B)classical conditioning.
C)secondary reinforcement.
D)operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

The bears have most likely undergone operant conditioning, which involves learning through rewards and punishments. The veterinarians possibly used positive reinforcement in the form of food rewards or praise when the bears behaved cooperatively during previous checkups, and the bears have learned to repeat that behavior to receive the reward again. This type of conditioning is often used to train animals for various tasks without the need for anesthesia or force.

Question 8

Identify an accurate statement related to operant conditioning.
A)Operant conditioning is unaffected by the contingency factor.
B)Operant conditioning is a form of associative learning.
C)Operant conditioning was first described by Ivan Pavlov.
D)Operant conditioning is also known as observational learning.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is a form of associative learning, which involves learning based on the consequences of behavior. It was first described by B.F. Skinner, not Ivan Pavlov. Observational learning is also known as social learning or modeling, and is a different type of learning process. The contingency factor, or the relationship between behavior and consequences, is a crucial aspect of operant conditioning.

Question 9

In aversive conditioning experiments to treat alcohol addiction, every time a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, he or she also consumes a mixture that induces nausea.In classical-conditioning terminology, the nausea-inducing agent is the
A)conditioned stimulus.
B)unconditioned stimulus.
C)neutral stimulus.
D)reinforced stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The nausea-inducing agent is the unconditioned stimulus because it naturally creates a response (nausea) without any prior conditioning or learning. The alcoholic beverage would then become the conditioned stimulus, as it becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus (nausea) and leads to a conditioned response (aversion to alcohol).

Question 10

_____ is a classical-conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.
A)Reinforced conditioning
B)Generalizing
C)Expectancy learning
D)Counterconditioning

Accepted Answer

Counterconditioning is a classical-conditioning procedure that aims to change the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response. This is achieved by pairing the conditioned stimulus with a new unconditioned stimulus that elicits a different response. The goal is to replace the old conditioned response with a new one.

Question 11

Taste aversion is an example of
A)immunosuppression.
B)classical conditioning.
C)observational learning.
D)habituation.

Accepted Answer

Taste aversion is a type of classical conditioning where an organism associates a particular taste or food with sickness, and as a result, develops a strong aversion to it, even if the sickness was caused by an unrelated factor. This learned response is different from habituation, which is when an organism becomes less responsive to a repeated stimulus over time. It is also different from immunosuppression and observational learning.

Question 12

Little Albert was conditioned by John Watson to fear a white rat.Eventually, however, Albert became fearful of any stimulus that looked white and furry.He became scared not only of rats, but also of rabbits, dogs, and even sealskin coats.This study illustrates
A)extinction.
B)stimulus acquisition in classical conditioning.
C)stimulus generalization in classical conditioning.
D)spontaneous recovery.

Accepted Answer

Stimulus generalization in classical conditioning refers to the tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus. In the case of Little Albert, he became fearful of not only the white rat (the conditioned stimulus), but also other similar white and furry objects, indicating stimulus generalization.

Question 13

Classical conditioning can produce _____, which is a decrease in the production of antibodies that can lower a person's ability to fight disease.
A)immunosuppression
B)depression
C)habituation
D)conditioned oppression

Accepted Answer

The term for a decrease in the production of antibodies that can lower a person's ability to fight disease is immunosuppression. Classical conditioning has been shown to produce immunosuppression, particularly in cases where a neutral stimulus (such as a particular taste) is repeatedly paired with an immune-suppressing drug. Eventually, the neutral stimulus alone can produce immunosuppression, even in the absence of the drug.

Question 14

Robert drank too much tequila last night.He spent much of this morning vomiting.According to the principles of classical conditioning, how will Robert likely react today when he tastes or smells the tequila bottle that he drank out of last night?
A)He will feel happy about what a great time he had last night.
B)He will want to drink more tequila right away.
C)He will find the scent and taste of tequila aversive.
D)He will invite all of his friends over that night for another party.

Accepted Answer

Robert's vomiting after drinking too much tequila last night will likely cause him to have an aversion to the taste and smell of tequila, due to classical conditioning. This means that the scent and taste of tequila will become associated with the negative experience of vomiting, and will result in an unpleasant reaction.

Question 15

Which of the following is more effective in explaining voluntary behaviors?
A)discovery learning
B)latent learning
C)classical conditioning
D)operant conditioning

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is more effective in explaining voluntary behaviors as it focuses on how consequences of behavior determine the likelihood of it being repeated or avoided in the future. This is particularly relevant to voluntary behaviors as they are under the control of the individual and can therefore be shaped by the consequences that follow them.

Question 16

Leonard is addicted to heroin, but is very careful about overdosing.He always uses a specific amount and takes it only in his apartment.On Friday, he became desperate for the drug while visiting with another drug user.This was the first time he had used heroin outside his own apartment.He injected his normal "safe" dose of heroin but almost died of an overdose.According to the principles of classical conditioning what led to Leonard's condition?
A)Leonard's friend switched his drugs in order to teach him not to use drugs by switching his unconditioned stimulus (US) with his conditioned stimulus (CS).
B)The effect of the heroin was increased because Leonard injected it in a strange environment and his body was not prepared to take the effect under the new setting.
C)Leonard's drug tolerance had reached its limits and his US was confounded with his CS and UR.
D)Leonard took his dose too soon and his body already had too much.

Accepted Answer

According to the principles of classical conditioning, Leonard's body had become accustomed to the effects of the heroin in his own apartment. In a new environment, his body was not prepared for the same dosage and therefore, the effects were increased, leading him to almost overdose. This is an example of stimulus generalization, where the effects of a conditioned stimulus (heroin) are generalized to other stimuli (different environment).

Question 17

Classical conditioning most effectively explains how neutral stimuli become associated with
A)learned behavior.
B)instrumental behavior.
C)involuntary responses.
D)conditioned responses.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is a learning process that creates associations between a neutral stimulus and an involuntary response, such as salivation or fear, through repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 18

Miguel has been unable to sleep for the past one week.His wife gives him a vitamin pill and tells him that it will help him sleep at night.The next morning, Miguel is thrilled because he has slept better than ever before.In this scenario, Miguel's response to the vitamin can be attributed to
A)the schedules of reinforcement.
B)aversive conditioning.
C)spontaneous recovery.
D)the placebo effect.

Accepted Answer

Miguel's response to the vitamin pill can be attributed to the placebo effect, which refers to a person's belief or expectation that a treatment, even if it is inert, will have a beneficial effect. This effect can be strong enough to produce real physiological changes in the body, including improvements in sleep quality.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about classical conditioning in humans is FALSE?
A)Classical conditioning provides an explanation of fears.
B)Classical conditioning can produce immunosuppression.
C)Classical conditioning can explain drug habituation.
D)Classical conditioning is based on observing and imitating others.

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is not based on observing and imitating others, this refers to social learning theory. Classical conditioning involves the association of two stimuli that occur together, leading to a learned response.

Question 20

In John Watson's experiment on classical conditioning, a white rat was used as a(n) _____ to condition Albert.
A)conditioned stimulus
B)unconditioned stimulus
C)conditioned response
D)unconditioned response

Accepted Answer

In John Watson's experiment, a white rat was used as a conditioned stimulus (CS) to condition Little Albert. Initially, the rat was a neutral stimulus, but after being paired with the loud noise (the unconditioned stimulus), Albert began to associate the white rat with the noise, leading to fear (the conditioned response) when presented with the rat alone.

Quiz 5: Learning

In operant conditioning,

Classical conditioning helps to explain _____, which refers to the decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

According to Thorndike's law of effect,

_____ is a form of treatment that involves repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.

Which of the following helps to explain drug habituation?

Identify an accurate statement related to operant conditioning.

In aversive conditioning experiments to treat alcohol addiction, every time a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, he or she also consumes a mixture that induces nausea.In classical-conditioning terminology, the nausea-inducing agent is the

_____ is a classical-conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.

Taste aversion is an example of

Little Albert was conditioned by John Watson to fear a white rat.Eventually, however, Albert became fearful of any stimulus that looked white and furry.He became scared not only of rats, but also of rabbits, dogs, and even sealskin coats.This study illustrates

Classical conditioning can produce _____, which is a decrease in the production of antibodies that can lower a person's ability to fight disease.

Robert drank too much tequila last night.He spent much of this morning vomiting.According to the principles of classical conditioning, how will Robert likely react today when he tastes or smells the tequila bottle that he drank out of last night?

Which of the following is more effective in explaining voluntary behaviors?

Classical conditioning most effectively explains how neutral stimuli become associated with

Miguel has been unable to sleep for the past one week.His wife gives him a vitamin pill and tells him that it will help him sleep at night.The next morning, Miguel is thrilled because he has slept better than ever before.In this scenario, Miguel's response to the vitamin can be attributed to

Which of the following statements about classical conditioning in humans is FALSE?

In John Watson's experiment on classical conditioning, a white rat was used as a(n) _____ to condition Albert.