Test Bank - Chapter 6 Quiz 1 PDF

A student hears the sound of their phone ringing and immediately experiences anxiety, as it reminds them of a stressful phone call with a professor. What is the **conditioned stimulus** in this scenario? - A\) The sound of the phone ringing. - B\) The professor\'s voice. - C\) The anxiety e...

A student hears the sound of their phone ringing and immediately experiences anxiety, as it reminds them of a stressful phone call with a professor. What is the **conditioned stimulus** in this scenario? - A\) The sound of the phone ringing. - B\) The professor\'s voice. - C\) The anxiety experienced. - D\) The stressful phone call. - **Correct Answer:** A\ **Explanation:** The sound of the phone ringing becomes a conditioned stimulus after being associated with the stressful call, eliciting anxiety even when the professor is not on the line. A dog that was conditioned to salivate to a tone stops responding after the tone is presented repeatedly without food. However, days later, the salivation response reappears when the tone is heard. What process does this describe? - A\) Extinction. - B\) Generalization. - C\) Spontaneous recovery. - D\) Discrimination. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** Spontaneous recovery refers to the return of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period. What is an example of **stimulus generalization** in classical conditioning? - A\) A dog salivating to the exact tone it was trained with, but not to other tones. - B\) A child bitten by a dog developing a fear of all dogs, not just the one that bit them. - C\) A rat pressing a lever only when a green light is on. - D\) A student studying harder after receiving a high grade. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Stimulus generalization occurs when a response is triggered by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus, such as a fear of all dogs instead of just the one involved. Which of the following illustrates **preparedness** in classical conditioning? - A\) A person develops a fear of snakes after seeing one on TV. - B\) A dog salivates to a tone that precedes food delivery. - C\) A student feels stressed when seeing the library during finals week. - D\) A rat avoids a specific food after becoming ill from eating it. - **Correct Answer:** D\ **Explanation:** Preparedness refers to the biological predisposition to learn certain associations more easily, such as avoiding foods linked to nausea for survival purposes. **Operant Conditioning: Learning Through Consequences** 5. A student receives praise from their teacher for answering a question correctly, which increases their likelihood of participating again. What type of operant conditioning is this? - A\) Positive reinforcement. - B\) Negative reinforcement. - C\) Positive punishment. - D\) Negative punishment. - **Correct Answer:** A\ **Explanation:** Positive reinforcement involves adding a rewarding stimulus (praise) to increase the likelihood of a behavior (participation). 6. A parent takes away a child's video game privileges after they fail to complete their homework, resulting in better study habits. What type of conditioning does this demonstrate? - A\) Positive reinforcement. - B\) Negative reinforcement. - C\) Positive punishment. - D\) Negative punishment. - **Correct Answer:** D\ **Explanation:** Negative punishment involves removing a desired stimulus (video games) to decrease undesirable behavior (not completing homework). 7. What distinguishes **escape learning** from **avoidance learning**? - A\) Escape learning involves preventing a stimulus, while avoidance learning involves removing it after it has occurred. - B\) Escape learning involves removing a stimulus after it has occurred, while avoidance learning involves preventing it. - C\) Escape learning increases behavior frequency, while avoidance learning decreases it. - D\) Escape learning applies only to animals, while avoidance learning applies to humans. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Escape learning removes an aversive stimulus after it has started, while avoidance learning prevents the stimulus from occurring altogether. 8. A rat in a Skinner box learns that pressing a lever results in food only when a light is on. The light is an example of: - A\) A discriminative stimulus. - B\) A conditioned response. - C\) A positive reinforcer. - D\) A variable ratio schedule. - **Correct Answer:** A\ **Explanation:** A discriminative stimulus signals when reinforcement is available, guiding the organism\'s behavior. **Cognitive & Observational Learning** 9. Edward Tolman's concept of **latent learning** is best demonstrated by which scenario? - A\) A rat learns to navigate a maze only after receiving a food reward. - B\) A student completes their homework daily because of parental rewards. - C\) A child learns to tie their shoes after watching a sibling do it. - D\) A pigeon pecks a lever more often after receiving inconsistent rewards. - **Correct Answer:** A\ **Explanation:** Latent learning occurs when knowledge is acquired but not demonstrated until there is an incentive, as shown by rats navigating a maze for food. 10. A child observes a sibling being scolded for drawing on walls and subsequently avoids doing the same. This scenario exemplifies: - A\) Operant conditioning. - B\) Observational learning. - C\) Classical conditioning. - D\) Shaping. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Observational learning occurs when behavior changes due to observing the consequences experienced by another, rather than direct experience. 11. Which of the following is an essential process for observational learning, according to Bandura? - A\) Instinctual reinforcement. - B\) Discrimination of stimuli. - C\) The ability to reproduce the observed behavior. - D\) The presence of an unconditioned stimulus. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** Observational learning requires attention, memory, reproduction capability, and motivation, with reproduction being critical for behavioral replication. 12. Mirror neurons are believed to play a key role in: - A\) Conditioning responses to rewards. - B\) Observational learning and understanding others' actions. - C\) Discriminating between similar stimuli. - D\) Regulating extinction of conditioned behaviors. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Mirror neurons activate during both the performance and observation of an action, aiding in imitation and social learning. 13. A factory worker earns \$20 for every 10 items they assemble. Which schedule of reinforcement is being used? - A\) Fixed Interval - B\) Variable Interval - C\) Fixed Ratio - D\) Variable Ratio - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** A fixed ratio schedule reinforces behavior after a set number of responses, in this case, 10 completed items. 14. Which of the following illustrates **negative reinforcement**? - A\) A child is given candy for cleaning their room. - B\) A student is no longer nagged by their parent after finishing their homework. - C\) A teacher deducts points for late assignments. - D\) A driver is fined for speeding. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior (completing homework) by removing an aversive stimulus (nagging). 15. Which reinforcement schedule produces the **highest rate of responding** and is most resistant to extinction? - A\) Fixed Interval - B\) Variable Interval - C\) Fixed Ratio - D\) Variable Ratio - **Correct Answer:** D\ **Explanation:** Variable ratio schedules, like those used in gambling, produce high response rates and are highly resistant to extinction due to the unpredictability of rewards. 16. A child occasionally gets a sticker for turning in their homework on time. Over time, they continue to do so even without receiving stickers regularly. What explains this persistence? - A\) Continuous reinforcement effect. - B\) Partial reinforcement effect. - C\) Positive punishment. - D\) Discriminative stimulus. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** The partial reinforcement effect makes behaviors more resistant to extinction because the subject learns that reinforcement is inconsistent. **Cognitive and Observational Learning** 17. In Bandura's Bobo doll experiment, children who observed adults hitting the doll: - A\) Were less likely to interact with the doll. - B\) Displayed no aggressive behavior. - C\) Imitated the adult's aggressive actions. - D\) Developed a conditioned emotional response to the doll. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** Observational learning was evident as children imitated the specific aggressive behaviors they observed in adults. 18. Which of the following is **NOT** required for observational learning to occur? - A\) Attention to the observed behavior. - B\) Motivation to imitate the behavior. - C\) Immediate reinforcement for the observer. - D\) The ability to reproduce the observed behavior. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** Observational learning does not require immediate reinforcement; memory and motivation play more significant roles. 19. A child watches a cooking show and later successfully bakes cookies using the same steps. What concept does this scenario demonstrate? - A\) Latent learning. - B\) Operant conditioning. - C\) Observational learning. - D\) Classical conditioning. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** Observational learning occurs when knowledge or behavior is acquired by watching others, as in this scenario with the cooking show. 20. How do **mirror neurons** contribute to learning? - A\) They release dopamine during reinforcement. - B\) They activate during both action and observation of similar actions. - C\) They help extinguish previously conditioned responses. - D\) They create associations between unconditioned and conditioned stimuli. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Mirror neurons fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action, aiding in imitation and social learning. **Real-Life Applications and Complex Scenarios** 21. After being stung by a bee, a child begins to fear all flying insects. This is an example of: - A\) Stimulus discrimination. - B\) Stimulus generalization. - C\) Positive punishment. - D\) Negative reinforcement. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Stimulus generalization occurs when a learned response to one stimulus extends to similar stimuli, like fearing all insects after one sting. 22. A gambler continues playing a slot machine despite losing money, hoping for a win. What reinforcement schedule is at play? - A\) Fixed Ratio - B\) Variable Ratio - C\) Fixed Interval - D\) Variable Interval - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Slot machines use variable ratio schedules, reinforcing behavior after an unpredictable number of responses, encouraging persistence. 23. A teenager loses phone privileges for breaking curfew, but this does not reduce the behavior. What principle does this outcome challenge? - A\) The efficacy of negative reinforcement. - B\) The concept of punishment. - C\) The law of effect. - D\) The role of discriminative stimuli. - **Correct Answer:** C\ **Explanation:** The law of effect states that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences should decrease, but if the behavior persists, the punishment may not be effective or consistent. 24. In a workplace, employees receive bonuses at random times, regardless of the number of sales they make. Which schedule of reinforcement is this? - A\) Fixed Interval - B\) Variable Interval - C\) Fixed Ratio - D\) Variable Ratio - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Variable interval schedules provide reinforcement after unpredictable time intervals, promoting steady behavior. 25. Which of the following examples best illustrates **escape learning**? - A\) A student avoids taking a challenging class to prevent stress. - B\) A person uses earplugs to block out loud music at a concert. - C\) A dog learns to stay in its yard to avoid being shocked by an invisible fence. - D\) A child studies in advance to avoid parental nagging. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Escape learning involves removing an aversive stimulus that is already present, such as using earplugs to block loud noise. 26. A worker on a **fixed interval schedule** of reinforcement is most likely to: - A\) Produce a steady rate of responses over time. - B\) Work harder right before the reinforcement becomes available. - C\) Continue working even after reinforcement stops. - D\) Exhibit a high, irregular rate of responding. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Fixed interval schedules often result in a \"scalloped\" pattern of responding, where activity increases as reinforcement approaches. 27. Which behavior reflects **superstitious learning**, as explained by Skinner's pigeon experiment? - A\) A student wears their "lucky socks" to every exam because they once got an A while wearing them. - B\) A dog sits whenever it sees its owner holding a treat. - C\) A child continues pressing buttons on a vending machine even after it fails to work. - D\) A rat presses a lever because it consistently delivers food. - **Correct Answer:** A\ **Explanation:** Superstitious behavior occurs when reinforcement is mistakenly attributed to unrelated actions, such as wearing "lucky socks" for exam success. 28. A researcher delivers a food pellet to a rat every time it presses a lever. When the lever stops dispensing food, the rat gradually stops pressing it. What process does this describe? - A\) Shaping. - B\) Extinction. - C\) Partial reinforcement effect. - D\) Stimulus generalization. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Extinction occurs when a learned behavior decreases because reinforcement is no longer available. **Cognitive Learning: Latent Learning and Cognitive Maps** 29. A student spends several weeks walking to different parts of campus. When their usual route is closed, they easily navigate a new path without assistance. This scenario demonstrates: - A\) Observational learning. - B\) Latent learning. - C\) Operant conditioning. - D\) Stimulus discrimination. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** Latent learning occurs when knowledge is acquired without reinforcement and is later demonstrated when needed, as in finding a new route. 30. Which of the following best describes the **S-O-R theory of learning**? - A\) Learning occurs solely through stimulus-response pairings. - B\) Organisms actively interpret stimuli based on their cognitive and emotional states. - C\) Learning depends on the frequency of reinforcement and punishment. - D\) Behavior is entirely shaped by external consequences. - **Correct Answer:** B\ **Explanation:** S-O-R theory emphasizes the role of cognitive interpretation in determining responses to stimuli, acknowledging individual differences.