Biological Psychology: Conditioning and Phobias

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Questions and Answers

What is the concept of instinctive drift, as described by Breland and Breland (1961)?

The use of food reinforcement to elicit a desired response from an animal.

The tendency of an animal to revert to its innate behavior, interfering with conditioning processes. (correct)

The process of conditioning an animal to perform a specific behavior.

The training of animals to perform complex tasks.

What did Breland and Breland (1961) identify as the best behavioral model for teaching operant conditioning in the classroom?

Chickens (correct)

Mice

Raccoons

Pigs

What was the primary focus of the IQ Zoo, a tourist attraction in Hot Springs?

Studying animal behavior and cognition

Showcasing the abilities of trained animals (correct)

Breeding animals for conservation

Teaching operant conditioning to animals

What did Breland and Breland (1961) observe in their training of animals, which led to the concept of instinctive drift?

Innate responses interfered with conditioned behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which food reinforcement can elicit innate food-related behaviors in animals?

Food foraging response Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Breland and Breland's work, as described in the text?

To study the limitations of operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What are some common phobias that humans may develop?

Spiders, snakes, heights, and darkness Signup and view all the answers

What type of schedules can contribute to schedule-induced behaviours?

Fixed-interval schedules Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of schedule-induced behaviour in humans?

Excessive drinking Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for excessive or 'abnormal' behaviours that occur during fixed-interval schedules?

Adjunctive behaviours Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the article 'The Misbehavior Of Organisms'?

Breland, K. and Breland, M. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the chapter that discusses the limits of learning?

The Limits of Learning Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote the article 'Phobias and Preparedness'?

Seligman, M.E.P. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an 'instinctive' appetitive behaviour that can occur excessively in humans?

Drinking Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of Bob Bailey's operant conditioning courses for dog trainers?

Breland and Breland's chicken training workshops Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for conditioned taste aversion?

Evolutionary adaptation to avoid poisonous foods Signup and view all the answers

How many pairings are typically required for an association to develop in most conditioning?

More than one pairing Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the biologically programmed predisposition to be conditioned in certain ways and not others?

Preparedness Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of eating a particular food followed by nausea?

Conditioned taste aversion Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of conditioned taste aversion from an evolutionary perspective?

To increase chance of survival Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between taste and nausea in conditioned taste aversion?

Animals make connections between taste and nausea Signup and view all the answers

Who is associated with the concept of preparedness in conditioning?

Martin Seligman Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Constraints on Conditioning

Instinctive drift occurs when innate response tendencies interfere with conditioning processes, causing a decline in the effectiveness of an operant response reinforced by food.
Examples of instinctive drift include pigs or raccoons depositing coins in a piggy bank, illustrating how food reinforcement can elicit innate food foraging and handling behaviors.
Breland and Breland (1961) identified instinctive drift as a biological constraint on conditioning, highlighting the importance of considering innate behaviors in learning processes.

Conditioned Taste Aversion

Aversions to food can develop if eating a particular food is followed by nausea, as animals readily make connections between taste and nausea.
This makes sense from an evolutionary perspective, as animals that learn to avoid food that has made them sick are more likely to survive.

Preparedness and Phobias

Martin Seligman suggests that preparedness is a biologically programmed, species-specific predisposition to be conditioned in certain ways and not others.
Humans appear easily to develop phobias to stimuli such as spiders, snakes, heights, and darkness, which may have helped the survival of early ancestors.

Schedule-Induced Behaviours

Excessive or aberrant behaviors can occur during fixed-interval schedules, typically just after reinforcement.
Examples include polydipsia (excessive drinking), excessive wheel-running, and excessive aggression in non-human animals.
In humans, excessive levels of instinctive appetitive behaviors (eating, drinking) can also occur, potentially contributing to issues like excessive drinking or alcoholism.

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Description

This quiz covers biological constraints on conditioning, instinctive drift, conditioned taste aversion, preparedness, and phobias in the context of biological and learning psychology. It discusses the work of Breland and Breland (1961) on food reinforcement and innate food foraging behavior.