Understanding Behaviorism and Conditioning

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

In classical conditioning, what is the primary role of a neutral stimulus?

To elicit an involuntary, automatic response directly.
To act as a reinforcement, increasing the probability of a specific response.
To initially have no effect, but become associated with a natural stimulus to trigger a conditioned response. (correct)
To serve as a punishment that decreases the likelihood of a behavior.

According to the law of effect, which scenario is most likely to result in a behavior being repeated?

A behavior is consistently paired with a neutral stimulus, leading to habituation.
A behavior is followed by a stimulus that the organism finds aversive.
A behavior is followed by consequences that the organism finds satisfying. (correct)
A behavior is ignored, leading to extinction of the response.

What is the key difference between operant and classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning always results in increased behavior, while classical conditioning always leads to decreased behavior.
Operant conditioning focuses on consequences of behaviors, while classical conditioning creates associations between stimuli. (correct)
Operant conditioning was discovered by Ivan Pavlov, while classical conditioning was discovered by B.F. Skinner.
Operant conditioning involves involuntary behaviors, while classical conditioning focuses on voluntary behaviors.

Which of the following examples illustrates negative reinforcement?

Removing a restriction, such as curfew, when a teenager demonstrates responsible behavior. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of stimulus-response theory, how do individuals primarily learn?

Through trial and error, where positive outcomes reinforce behaviors. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the behaviorist perspective on human motivation?

Human behavior results from interactions with the environment and learned responses to stimuli. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the central focus of behaviorism as a grand theory of human development?

Examining observable behavior and the laws by which behavior is learned. (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the behavioral perspective, what is the primary factor influencing human development?

Environmental stimuli. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement aligns with the behaviorist view on nature versus nurture?

Nurture is more influential to development than nature. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do behaviorist theories differ from stage-based theories of development?

Behaviorist theories reject the idea of universal stages, focusing instead on the impact of individual environmental stimuli. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the behavioral perspective, what characterizes developmental patterns?

Developmental patterns are personal, specific, and represent continuous exposure to environmental components. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How is developmental change viewed within the behavioral perspective?

As quantitative changes resulting from accumulated experiences. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role does reinforcement play in the process of conditioning, according to behaviorism?

Reinforcement makes a response more frequent or predictable in a given environment, typically through a stimulus or reward. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Classical Conditioning

Creating an association between a natural stimulus and a neutral one.

Operant Conditioning

Using reinforcement or punishment to change a behavior.