Behaviorism and Reflexes in Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Law of Threshold' refer to in reflex behavior?

The relationship between stimulus intensity and response speed.

The maximum intensity of a response to any stimulus.

The variability of responses among different organisms.

The point at which a stimulus must exceed to elicit a response. (correct)

Which of the following correctly describes the pragmatic view of behaviorism?

It emphasizes studying behavior without considering consciousness. (correct)

It focuses on understanding the metaphysical aspects of the mind.

It examines behavior solely based on genetic predispositions.

It dismisses environmental influences on behavior.

What best describes the relationship that behavior is viewed through according to behaviorism?

Behavior is a function of organism and environment interactions. (correct)

Behavior is determined only by previous learning experiences.

Behavior is solely a function of genetic inheritance.

Behavior is influenced primarily by metaphysical thoughts.

Which of the following reflexes is considered highly stereotypic and found in all members of a species?

The pupillary reflex. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Law of Intensity-Magnitude in reflex responses?

Increased stimulus intensity leads to stronger responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of aversion therapy?

To pair a stimulus with a noxious stimulus to condition aversion Signup and view all the answers

What does operant conditioning primarily study?

How consequences affect behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is a discriminative stimulus?

A stimulus that signals when a behavior will be reinforced Signup and view all the answers

What defines negative reinforcement?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of using punishment as a behavior modification technique?

It can lead to aggression and undesirable emotional responses Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a schedule of reinforcement have on behavior?

It produces predictable patterns and rates of behavior over time Signup and view all the answers

What is operant extinction?

The process of withholding reinforcers that maintain a behavior Signup and view all the answers

What does spontaneous recovery refer to?

The sudden increase of a previously extinct behavior after a pause Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping in the context of operant conditioning?

The gradual reinforcement of closer approximations to a target behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best illustrates positive punishment?

A dog is sprayed with water for barking excessively Signup and view all the answers

What happens during an extinction burst?

A sudden increase in the frequency of the behavior occurs Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of operant/generalization?

Behaviors occur in response to a range of similar stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What incorrect assumption might someone make regarding the effectiveness of rewards?

Any type of reward will effectively reinforce behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between an unconditioned stimulus (US) and a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

US elicits a response naturally, while CS requires prior learning. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conditioning is characterized by a neutral stimulus becoming a conditioned stimulus due to its relationship with an already established conditioned stimulus?

Higher-order conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What does spontaneous recovery indicate about the process of respondent extinction?

The learned behavior was temporarily suppressed, not eliminated. Signup and view all the answers

In which conditioning method does the conditioned stimulus (CS) begin and end before the unconditioned stimulus (US)?

Trace conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What kind of behavioral trait is influenced by genetic factors according to general behavioral traits?

Genetically inherited aggression levels Signup and view all the answers

Which type of learning involves a decrease in response due to repeated exposure to a stimulus?

Habituation Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon occurs when an organism exhibits a conditional response to stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus?

Stimulus generalization Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of fixed action patterns?

They are behavior sequences inherent to species. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes respondent extinction?

The conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of conditioning is considered the least effective?

Simultaneous conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus after repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus?

Conditioned response Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes operant conditioning compared to respondent conditioning?

It is influenced by consequences of behavior and reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions would likely result in greater conditioned responding?

Presenting the conditioned stimulus before the unconditioned stimulus repeatedly. Signup and view all the answers

How does the law of latency relate to stimulus intensity and response time?

Greater intensity results in faster response elicitation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Behaviorism

Focuses on observable behavior, not internal mental processes
Assumes behavior is a product of environmental stimuli
Behavior is a function of organism (physiology, genetics, prior learning) and environment
Behavior can be studied for its own sake
Views behavior as a function of evolved genetic and environmental forces

Phylogenetic (Evolved) Behavior

Reflexes are relationships between specific events and simple responses
Found in all members of a species
Highly stereotypical examples include pupillary reflex, salivary reflex, and peristalsis
Not all reflexes are useful (e.g., peanut allergies, seizures triggered by flashing lights)
Primary Laws of the Reflex:
Law of Threshold: A specific intensity of stimulus is needed to elicit a response
Law of Intensity-Magnitude: Increased stimulus intensity leads to a proportional increase in response intensity
Law of Latency: Increased stimulus intensity results in faster response times
Habituation: A decrease in a response's intensity or probability due to repeated stimulation.
Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs): Series of related actions common to nearly all members of a species, triggered by specific stimuli, also called modal action patterns
General Behavioral Traits: General behavioral tendencies strongly influenced by genetics.

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Description

This quiz explores the principles of behaviorism, focusing on observable behavior and the impact of environmental stimuli. It also covers phylogenetic behaviors and the primary laws of reflexes. Test your understanding of these key concepts in psychology.