Question 1

When something desirable has been removed upon the occurrence of a behavior,and as a result that behavior is weakened,_____ has happened.
A)positive punishment
B)negative reinforcement
C)positive reinforcement
D)negative punishment

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment involves the removal of a desirable stimulus after a behavior, which leads to a decrease in that behavior.

Question 2

When 3-year-old Ariel threw a tantrum over the candy she wanted,her mother gave it to her so that Ariel would calm down.Although counterproductive in the long run,in that moment,the mother's behavior was being _____ by _____.
A)negatively reinforced;the end of the tantrum
B)positively reinforced;the end of the tantrum
C)positively reinforced;candy
D)positively punished;continued tantrums

Accepted Answer

The mother's behavior of giving candy to Ariel was negatively reinforced by the end of the tantrum, as it removed the unpleasant situation (the tantrum).

Question 3

The grid floor in an operant chamber is electrified.Each time a rat presses a lever,however,the shock is turned off for one minute.The rat quickly learns to press the lever the second that the grid becomes electrified.Lever pressing has been:
A)positively reinforced.
B)negatively reinforced.
C)positively punished.
D)negatively punished.

Accepted Answer

The behavior of lever pressing is being strengthened through the removal of an aversive stimulus (electrified grid) after the behavior (lever pressing) occurs. This is referred to as negative reinforcement. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 4

Which statement about primary reinforcers is TRUE?
A)Primary reinforcers include handshakes,smiles,and trophies.
B)Primary reinforcers have little to do with the majority of daily reinforcers and punishers.
C)Primary reinforcers acquire value through classical conditioning.
D)Primary reinforcers do not help satisfy biological needs.

Accepted Answer

Primary reinforcers are inherently valuable and satisfy biological needs, such as food, water, and warmth, which are crucial for survival and thus are directly related to daily reinforcers and punishers. Statements A, C, and D describe secondary reinforcers, which acquire their value through association with primary reinforcers via classical conditioning, and do not directly satisfy biological needs.

Question 5

When 3-year-old Ariel threw a tantrum over the candy she wanted,her mother gave it to her so that Ariel would calm down.Unfortunately,Ariel's temper tantrums probably have been:
A)negatively reinforced.
B)positively reinforced.
C)negatively punished.
D)positively punished.

Accepted Answer

Giving Ariel the candy after a tantrum is an example of positive reinforcement, as it increases the likelihood that she will throw tantrums in the future to get what she wants. Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Question 6

_____ reinforcers help satisfy biological needs.
A)Primary
B)Secondary
C)Immediate
D)Conditioned

Accepted Answer

Primary reinforcers are unlearned and satisfy biological needs such as food, water, and sex. Secondary reinforcers, on the other hand, are learned and do not have inherent value but instead acquire value through their association with primary reinforcers or other rewards. Immediate reinforcers provide immediate gratification or pleasure, whereas conditioned reinforcers are neutral stimuli that become reinforcing through their association with a primary or immediate reinforcer.

Question 7

Every time a rat presses a lever,it receives a small injection of cocaine.That rat begins pressing the lever more and more,indicating that cocaine is a:
A)positive reinforcer.
B)negative reinforcer.
C)positive punisher.
D)negative punisher.

Accepted Answer

The increasing behavior of the rat pressing the lever indicates that the small injection of cocaine functions as a positive reinforcer. Positive reinforcement is a consequence that strengthens a behavior by adding a desirable stimulus. In this case, the rat's behavior of pressing the lever is reinforced positively by the injection of cocaine, which increases the likelihood of the rat repeating the behavior to receive the same desirable outcome.

Question 8

Frank flings a paper airplane through the air in history class.All of the students laugh.Their teacher,Mr.Curtis,becomes irate;his face turns beet red,and large veins bulge from his neck."Frank!" Mr.Curtis screams,"You are in big trouble now!" Frank really doesn't care about the trouble.The combination of the attention from the students and the emotional reaction from Mr.Curtis was plenty to ensure that Frank will keep misbehaving in class.Throwing the paper airplane,then,was:
A)positively reinforced.
B)negatively reinforced.
C)positively punished.
D)negatively punished.

Accepted Answer

Frank was positively reinforced because the attention from the students and the emotional reaction from Mr.Curtis increased the likelihood of him misbehaving in class again. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a pleasant consequence, increasing the likelihood of that behavior repeating.

Question 9

What is one major flaw of punishment?
A)Punishment does not decrease the undesired behavior.
B)Punishment increases the undesired behavior.
C)Punishment does not promote learning about the desired behavior.
D)Punishment signals that unacceptable behavior has occurred.

Accepted Answer

Punishment often fails to teach the individual what behavior is expected instead, focusing only on suppressing the unwanted behavior without providing a model for positive behavior.

Question 10

Which item is a primary reinforcer?
A)the exclamation "Good job!"
B)a compliment about one's physical appearance
C)escaping the frigid cold by coming inside
D)stickers given to a child for good behavior

Accepted Answer

A primary reinforcer is something that is intrinsically rewarding and does not depend on learning or association with other rewards. Avoiding the discomfort of the cold by coming inside is a primary reinforcer.

Question 11

A baby will not stop crying,and he is driving his parents crazy.As a last resort,the father puts the baby in a laundry basket and sets the basket on top of the running dryer.The vibrations of the dryer soothe the baby and he falls asleep.The father congratulates himself on discovering this solution,which he most definitely will employ the next time the baby cannot be consoled.The father's behavior of implementing the "dryer trick" has thus been:
A)positively reinforced.
B)negatively reinforced.
C)positively punished.
D)negatively punished.

Accepted Answer

The father's behavior of putting the baby in the laundry basket and on top of the running dryer was negatively reinforced because it removed the aversive stimulus of the baby's crying (something he wanted to escape) by providing a comforting vibration. The likelihood of the father using this method again in the future is guided by the principle of negative reinforcement.

Question 12

A teenager swears at the dinner table,and as a result,her parents take away her iPod for one week.The teenager is now much less likely to swear at the dinner table,illustrating:
A)positive reinforcement.
B)negative reinforcement.
C)positive punishment.
D)negative punishment.

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates negative punishment, as the removal of the iPod is a decrease in the likelihood of the teenager swearing again in the future. It is negative because it involves the removal of something (the iPod), and it is punishment because it is intended to decrease the behavior (swearing at the dinner table).

Question 13

Booker has a really bad headache,so he takes a new painkiller.The drug works wonderfully to relieve his headache.The next time Booker has a headache,he definitely will take that drug.Booker's behavior of taking the new drug has been:
A)positively reinforced.
B)negatively reinforced.
C)positively punished.
D)negatively punished.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Booker has a really bad headache,so he...

Question 14

After implementing a policy where students can earn extra recess time with their good behavior,Miss Hobbes observes that her first-grade students have been better behaved.This illustrates which behavioral process?
A)positive reinforcement
B)negative reinforcement
C)positive punishment
D)negative punishment

Accepted Answer

The implementation of an extra recess time policy is a form of positive reinforcement, as the good behavior is being rewarded with a desirable outcome (more time to play outside). The fact that the students have been better behaved is a result of the reinforcement.

Question 15

A celebrity makes an insensitive tweet and,as a consequence,loses thousands of followers.As a result,he is less likely to make insensitive tweets in the future.This illustrates which behavioral process?
A)positive reinforcement
B)negative reinforcement
C)positive punishment
D)negative punishment

Accepted Answer

This situation illustrates negative punishment, which involves the removal of a reinforcing stimulus (in this case, followers) in response to undesirable behavior (insensitive tweet), resulting in a decrease in the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Question 16

A college instructor implements the following attendance policy.All students are given 20 bonus points at the start of the semester.Each absence will result in the loss of 5 bonus points.The instructor hopes this policy will _____ absences.
A)positively reinforce
B)negatively reinforce
C)positively punish
D)negatively punish

Accepted Answer

Negatively punishing means taking away a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior, in this case, taking away bonus points to decrease absences.

Question 17

Which item is a primary reinforcer?
A)good food when hungry
B)a compliment from your boss
C)movie tickets given to you by your significant other
D)an A on an examination

Accepted Answer

A primary reinforcer is something that naturally satisfies a biological need or desire, such as food when hungry. Compliments, movie tickets, and grades are examples of secondary reinforcers, as they only become reinforcing through their association with a primary reinforcer.

Question 18

One day,in the midst of his babbling,baby Chad uttered the sound "mama" in the presence of his mother.Chad's mother screamed in delight.This noise startled baby Chad;he stopped uttering that sound for quite some time,illustrating the effects of:
A)positive reinforcement.
B)negative reinforcement.
C)positive punishment.
D)negative punishment.

Accepted Answer

Chad's mother's scream, which startled him and led to him stopping the behavior of saying "mama," serves as an example of positive punishment. Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

Question 19

A shy and timid child works up the courage to raise his hand to answer a question.The teacher calls on him and the child delivers an excellent answer.The teacher exclaims,"That is the best answer I have heard all week! Great job! Come up to the front of the room to get a sticker!" Unfortunately,the child found all of this attention unpleasant and no longer answers questions in class.His behavior of answering questions was:
A)positively reinforced.
B)negatively reinforced.
C)positively punished.
D)negatively punished.

Accepted Answer

The child's behavior of answering questions was positively punished because the consequence (receiving unwanted attention) made the behavior less likely to occur in the future. Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant outcome after a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior happening again.

Question 20

A parent spanked a child for misbehaving,and the misbehavior stopped.By definition,the spanking served as a _____ for the misbehavior.
A)positive reinforcer
B)negative reinforcer
C)positive punisher
D)negative punisher

Accepted Answer

A positive punisher is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. In this scenario, the parent used spanking as a consequence to decrease the misbehavior in the future. The other options, positive reinforcer, negative reinforcer, and negative punisher, involve consequences that increase or decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring, not stopping a behavior.

Quiz 7: Learning-Part A

When something desirable has been removed upon the occurrence of a behavior,and as a result that behavior is weakened,_____ has happened.

When 3-year-old Ariel threw a tantrum over the candy she wanted,her mother gave it to her so that Ariel would calm down.Although counterproductive in the long run,in that moment,the mother's behavior was being _ by _.

The grid floor in an operant chamber is electrified.Each time a rat presses a lever,however,the shock is turned off for one minute.The rat quickly learns to press the lever the second that the grid becomes electrified.Lever pressing has been:

Which statement about primary reinforcers is TRUE?

When 3-year-old Ariel threw a tantrum over the candy she wanted,her mother gave it to her so that Ariel would calm down.Unfortunately,Ariel's temper tantrums probably have been:

_____ reinforcers help satisfy biological needs.

Every time a rat presses a lever,it receives a small injection of cocaine.That rat begins pressing the lever more and more,indicating that cocaine is a:

What is one major flaw of punishment?

Which item is a primary reinforcer?

A teenager swears at the dinner table,and as a result,her parents take away her iPod for one week.The teenager is now much less likely to swear at the dinner table,illustrating:

Booker has a really bad headache,so he takes a new painkiller.The drug works wonderfully to relieve his headache.The next time Booker has a headache,he definitely will take that drug.Booker's behavior of taking the new drug has been:

After implementing a policy where students can earn extra recess time with their good behavior,Miss Hobbes observes that her first-grade students have been better behaved.This illustrates which behavioral process?

A celebrity makes an insensitive tweet and,as a consequence,loses thousands of followers.As a result,he is less likely to make insensitive tweets in the future.This illustrates which behavioral process?

A college instructor implements the following attendance policy.All students are given 20 bonus points at the start of the semester.Each absence will result in the loss of 5 bonus points.The instructor hopes this policy will _____ absences.

Which item is a primary reinforcer?

One day,in the midst of his babbling,baby Chad uttered the sound "mama" in the presence of his mother.Chad's mother screamed in delight.This noise startled baby Chad;he stopped uttering that sound for quite some time,illustrating the effects of:

A parent spanked a child for misbehaving,and the misbehavior stopped.By definition,the spanking served as a _____ for the misbehavior.