Question 1

Rayvonte,a recent college graduate,is impressed when his cousin puts his résumé on the university's job board and then receives many job interviews.Rayvonte decides to post his résumé in hopes of finding his first professional job.He most likely posted his résumé on the job board as a result of
A) latent learning.
B) vicarious conditioning.
C) observational learning.
D) positive reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rayvonte,a recent college graduate,is impressed when his...

Question 2

You carpool with a friend to school every morning and he always drives.One day,your friend is sick and you have to drive yourself.Even though you have never actually driven to school,you know the exact route to take in order to get there from your house,which is most likely the result of
A) latent learning.
B) insight learning.
C) secondary reinforcement.
D) behavior modification.

Accepted Answer

Latent learning refers to learning that occurs without any obvious or immediate reinforcement, and it is likely that the individual in this scenario has learned the route to school through observation and repetition, even though they have never had to drive themselves before. Insight learning (B) would refer to the sudden realization of a solution to a problem, which is not applicable in this situation. Secondary reinforcement (C) refers to using a reinforcement to increase the value of a primary reinforcement, and behavior modification (D) refers to the use of reinforcement or punishment to shape behavior, which are not applicable in this scenario.

Question 3

Your psychology instructor is preparing her lecture on learning and wants to include an analogy about memes.She starts by writing "Memes are to genes as ..." but cannot figure out how to finish the sentence.Which of the following would best complete her thought?
A) culture is to society
B) mirror neurons are to long-term potentiation
C) nurture is to nature
D) neutral stimulus is to conditioned response

Accepted Answer

Memes are cultural elements that spread and evolve, similar to how genes are biological elements that spread and evolve. The analogy "nurture is to nature" reflects the cultural (nurture) versus biological (nature) comparison.

Question 4

Ian,who is three years old,was watching his father hammer a nail to join two pieces of wood together.If Ian learns how to hammer wood together after this experience,it is most likely the result of
A) observational learning.
B) modeling.
C) shaping.
D) vicarious conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Ian is observing his father's behavior and will likely learn how to hammer wood together through the process of observational learning. This involves watching and mimicking the actions of others. Modeling is also a possible explanation, but it is essentially the same as observational learning, as modeling refers to learning by observing and imitating others. Shaping and vicarious conditioning do not accurately describe Ian's learning in this scenario.

Question 5

Miranda is learning how to play tennis.She has a unique way of hitting a backhand shot,but after a lesson with a professional instructor,Miranda changes her backhand technique because the technique she saw her instructor use is more efficient.Miranda has learned to improve her tennis due to
A) vicarious conditioning.
B) latent learning.
C) observational learning.
D) continuous reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Miranda learned to improve her tennis by observing and imitating the backhand technique of her professional instructor, which is an example of observational learning. Vicarious conditioning involves learning by observing the consequences of others' behavior, latent learning involves learning that is not immediately apparent or demonstrated until there is an incentive to do so, and continuous reinforcement involves repeatedly reinforcing a behavior to maintain it. None of these concepts accurately describe Miranda's learning of a more efficient backhand technique.

Question 6

George is traveling to visit his friend Ryan in a neighboring town but has to take a detour due to road construction.At first George feels lost,but then he notices a sign for Madison Street and immediately knows where he is and how to navigate to Ryan's house.In this situation,George has reached Ryan's by using
A) a cognitive map.
B) insight learning.
C) positive reinforcement.
D) positive punishment.

Accepted Answer

A cognitive map is a mental representation of one's physical environment, including landmarks and spatial relationships. In this situation, George recognizes the sign for Madison Street and is able to orient himself and navigate to Ryan's house using his cognitive map. Insight learning refers to the sudden realization of a solution to a problem, which does not apply in this scenario. Positive reinforcement and positive punishment involve the application of consequences to increase or decrease behavior, respectively, and are also not applicable in this situation.

Question 7

Dr.Wolfgang would like to conduct a study examining how children learn to use slang words based on listening to their peers.Dr.Wolfgang's research would benefit if he read the work of ________,a psychologist who investigated observational learning.
A) John Watson
B) Edward Tolman
C) Alfred Bandura
D) B. F. Skinner

Accepted Answer

Alfred Bandura investigated observational learning, which is the process of learning by watching and imitating others, which is highly relevant to Dr. Wolfgang's study examining how children learn slang words by listening to their peers.

Question 8

Mario believes that his son is learning to be aggressive because he plays violent video games.In what way could observational learning explain the connection Mario sees between media and his son's behavior?
A) Children are rewarded for playing violent video games, which increases their level of aggression.
B) Violent video games reinforce children's biological tendency toward aggression.
C) Children who watch violence in video games tend to show more aggressive thoughts and actions.
D) Exposure to violence in video games changes the levels of neurotransmitters in children's brains and thus makes them more likely to act violently.

Accepted Answer

Observational learning theory suggests that individuals learn new behaviors by observing others and the consequences of their actions. In the case of violent video games, children may observe the aggressive actions of the characters and the consequences (such as achieving a higher score or winning the game), leading them to imitate those actions in real life. Research suggests that exposure to violence in media (including video games) is linked to increased aggressive thoughts and actions in children. Thus, observational learning could explain the connection Mario sees between his son's behavior and playing violent video games.

Question 9

Claire wants to write a paper about how often animals use observational learning.Which of the following should Claire NOT include as evidence to support her point that animals use observational learning?
A) A rat learns to run through a maze quickly to get the food at the end of the maze.
B) A lab-raised monkey sees a wild monkey's reaction to a snake and then becomes fearful of snakes.
C) A puppy learns to get to the food kept in the pantry after watching his mother open the door.
D) A cheetah injures rather than kills her prey in order to teach her cubs how to hunt.

Accepted Answer

A rat learning to run through a maze quickly to get food is an example of trial-and-error learning, not observational learning. Observational learning involves learning by watching others, which is not demonstrated in option A.

Question 10

A rehabilitation center reinforces patients' good behaviors with Monopoly money,which they can then trade in for food,movies,or other privileges.When they behave badly,however,the patients lose Monopoly money.To modify the patients' behavior,the center is using
A) a continuous schedule of reinforcement.
B) a token economy.
C) positive punishment.
D) a fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

The rehabilitation center is using a token economy, in which patients receive Monopoly money as a token for good behavior and lose it for bad behavior. This is a type of behavior modification technique that uses reinforcement (the Monopoly money) to encourage positive behavior. A token economy is a common example of a system of positive reinforcement and behavior modification.

Question 11

Your history professor wants to help students learn how to write a high-quality research paper,so he posts an example of an "A" paper on the course website.You use this example as a template when writing your own paper.You have used ________ to write a good research paper.
A) operant conditioning
B) shaping
C) modeling
D) vicarious conditioning

Accepted Answer

Modeling is the process of learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others. In this scenario, the student is using the example of an "A" paper as a model to guide their own writing. This exemplifies the use of modeling to learn and improve skills.

Question 12

Yang watched her family pray before eating all of her life,so Yang has learned to pray before eating a meal.Yang's praying is most likely a result of
A) operant learning.
B) classical conditioning.
C) vicarious conditioning.
D) observational learning.

Accepted Answer

Yang's learning to pray before meals is an example of observational learning, as she learned by observing her family members and their behavior.

Question 13

Billy has watched many movies in which the hero smokes cigarettes.Billy identifies with these heroes and begins to smoke himself.Billy's new smoking behavior is best explained by
A) latent learning.
B) positive reinforcement.
C) modeling.
D) partial reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Billy's new behavior is best explained by modeling, as he identified with and imitated the behavior of the heroes he watched in movies.

Question 14

Genevieve wants her students to learn how to read their textbooks to answer questions about the material.She has her students do an ungraded in-class activity where they read sections of the book and answer questions about what they read on an activity sheet.A few weeks later,Genevieve assigns an activity sheet to go with her students' reading,but this time they receive a grade for finding the answers in the text.If the students do a good job and earn high grades on their answers,then their performance is most likely a result of
A) a cognitive map.
B) insight learning.
C) latent learning.
D) vicarious conditioning.

Accepted Answer

The students' performance is most likely a result of latent learning, which is learning that occurs without reinforcement and is not immediately demonstrated until there is an incentive to do so. The initial ungraded activity allowed students to learn how to find answers in the text, and this learning became evident when they were later graded.

Question 15

When Mitch watches his brother Jacob stand on tiptoes to open the cabinet door,which of the following is most likely happening in Mitch's brain?
A) Dopamine is acting on his reward regions as a positive reinforcer.
B) Long-term potentiation serves to remove synaptic connections.
C) The hippocampus relays a message about the last time Mitch opened the cabinet.
D) Mitch's mirror neurons are being activated.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are responsible for mirroring the actions of others, allowing us to understand and imitate the movements of those around us. In this scenario, Mitch is observing his brother's actions, and his mirror neurons are being activated to help him understand how Jacob is able to reach the cabinet door.

Question 16

William is an observant teenager who encounters many different types of people as he goes about his day.Which of the following people is William LEAST likely to model?
A) Ms. Simone, the pretty teacher who instructs William in several of his classes
B) Nadir, his best friend who likes all the same foods and movies as William
C) Ramone, the track star who is one of the most popular kids in the class
D) Mr. Schafer, the bus driver who is very talkative to the students he drives

Accepted Answer

Modeling behavior typically occurs when an individual identifies with the model or sees them as having a desirable status or role. In this context, William is more likely to model behavior from individuals he spends significant time with, identifies with, or admires for their status or qualities (e.g., a teacher, a best friend, or a popular peer). A bus driver, despite potentially being a positive figure, is less likely to be modeled by William due to the more limited and functional nature of their interaction.

Question 17

Sasha finds it funny that when she makes a silly face,her infant daughter,Penelope,tries to make the same silly face.As a psychologist who studies learning,Sasha knows that when Penelope observes Sasha's face,Penelope's ________ is/are active.
A) long-term potentiation system
B) mirror neurons
C) memes
D) primary reinforcers

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are active when an individual observes someone else performing an action or expression, which allows for imitation and learning. In this scenario, Penelope is observing Sasha's silly face and attempting to imitate it, indicating the activation of mirror neurons in Penelope's brain.

Question 18

Thayer is holding her infant cousin and she smiles at the baby.The baby observes Thayer smiling and imitates the smile by smiling back.The baby most likely learned to smile in this situation based on
A) reinforcement.
B) modeling.
C) vicarious conditioning.
D) insight learning.

Accepted Answer

The baby observed Thayer smiling and imitated the behavior, which suggests that the baby learned to smile through modeling. Reinforcement involves the consequence of a behavior increasing or decreasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again, but there is no indication in the scenario that any consequences followed the baby's smile. Vicarious conditioning involves learning through observing the consequences of others' behavior, but there is no indication in the scenario that the baby observed the consequences of Thayer's smile. Insight learning involves sudden problem-solving or understanding, which is not applicable to the scenario. Therefore, B) modeling is the best answer.

Question 19

Vaughn always wears bell-bottom pants because he feels most comfortable in them.Vaughn works for a fashion magazine and constantly tries to influence his magazine's readers to bring bell-bottoms back into style.If successful,Vaughn will have influenced fashion by sharing knowledge about a culture,which is called
A) a meme.
B) reinforcement.
C) vicarious conditioning.
D) observational learning.

Accepted Answer

A meme is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture, often with the aim of conveying a particular phenomenon, theme, or meaning. Vaughn is trying to spread the idea of bell-bottoms as a fashion trend, which aligns with the concept of a meme.

Question 20

Twins Malcolm and Molly are learning to ride a bike.Molly watches Malcolm's attempts for several minutes and then tries to ride her own bike.During this process,Molly's mirror neurons are
A) never active.
B) active when she is watching Malcolm.
C) active when she tries to ride her bike.
D) active when she watches Malcolm and when she rides her own bike.

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are activated both when observing and performing an action. Therefore, Molly's mirror neurons would be active when she watches Malcolm and when she tries to ride her own bike.

Quiz 6: Learning

You carpool with a friend to school every morning and he always drives.One day,your friend is sick and you have to drive yourself.Even though you have never actually driven to school,you know the exact route to take in order to get there from your house,which is most likely the result of

Your psychology instructor is preparing her lecture on learning and wants to include an analogy about memes.She starts by writing "Memes are to genes as ..." but cannot figure out how to finish the sentence.Which of the following would best complete her thought?

Ian,who is three years old,was watching his father hammer a nail to join two pieces of wood together.If Ian learns how to hammer wood together after this experience,it is most likely the result of

Miranda is learning how to play tennis.She has a unique way of hitting a backhand shot,but after a lesson with a professional instructor,Miranda changes her backhand technique because the technique she saw her instructor use is more efficient.Miranda has learned to improve her tennis due to

Dr.Wolfgang would like to conduct a study examining how children learn to use slang words based on listening to their peers.Dr.Wolfgang's research would benefit if he read the work of ________,a psychologist who investigated observational learning.

Mario believes that his son is learning to be aggressive because he plays violent video games.In what way could observational learning explain the connection Mario sees between media and his son's behavior?

Claire wants to write a paper about how often animals use observational learning.Which of the following should Claire NOT include as evidence to support her point that animals use observational learning?

A rehabilitation center reinforces patients' good behaviors with Monopoly money,which they can then trade in for food,movies,or other privileges.When they behave badly,however,the patients lose Monopoly money.To modify the patients' behavior,the center is using

Your history professor wants to help students learn how to write a high-quality research paper,so he posts an example of an "A" paper on the course website.You use this example as a template when writing your own paper.You have used ________ to write a good research paper.

Yang watched her family pray before eating all of her life,so Yang has learned to pray before eating a meal.Yang's praying is most likely a result of

Billy has watched many movies in which the hero smokes cigarettes.Billy identifies with these heroes and begins to smoke himself.Billy's new smoking behavior is best explained by

When Mitch watches his brother Jacob stand on tiptoes to open the cabinet door,which of the following is most likely happening in Mitch's brain?

William is an observant teenager who encounters many different types of people as he goes about his day.Which of the following people is William LEAST likely to model?

Sasha finds it funny that when she makes a silly face,her infant daughter,Penelope,tries to make the same silly face.As a psychologist who studies learning,Sasha knows that when Penelope observes Sasha's face,Penelope's ________ is/are active.

Thayer is holding her infant cousin and she smiles at the baby.The baby observes Thayer smiling and imitates the smile by smiling back.The baby most likely learned to smile in this situation based on

Twins Malcolm and Molly are learning to ride a bike.Molly watches Malcolm's attempts for several minutes and then tries to ride her own bike.During this process,Molly's mirror neurons are