Concept Quiz 6.1-6.2

Eli is afraid of bees, and has been ever since he was nearly stung by one a few months ago. Lately, his father has been very distressed to see that Eli is now afraid of any flying insect, even tiny ones like gnats. The fact that Eli gets terribly afraid and runs to another room whenever he sees a flying bug demonstrates _____. a). generalization b). inhibition c). acquisition d). discrimination

a). generalization

Why is the process of sensitization advantageous? a). It improves fixed action patterns. b). It improves reaction time. c). It improves cognition. d). It facilitates adaptation.

b). It improves reaction time.

What type of stimulus elicits a response without prior experience-that is, without learning having taken place? a). Classical b). Unconditioned c). Conditioned d). Habitual

b). Unconditioned

A reaction to a given stimulus that is learned or acquired over time is referred to as ____. a). an unconditioned response b). a conditioned response c). a characteristic response d). an uncharacteristic response

b). a conditioned response

Which of the following is an example of nonassociative learning? a). Andrea recently learned how to drive a car. At first she found merging into highway traffic very stressful, but now she can do it with ease. b). As a child, Maxwell had a frightening experience with his neighbor's large dog. He now fears all large dogs. c). Hoping to understand more about her parent's culture, Parvati carefully watches as her grandmother prepares a traditional South Indian meal. d). Gabriel tells his four-year-old daughter each night: "No dessert until you eat your dinner without complaining." To get the dessert, his daughter obeys. Close Explanation Explanation:

a). Andrea recently learned how to drive a car. At first she found merging into highway traffic very stressful, but now she can do it with ease.

Which of the following statements describes a belief of the early behaviorists? a). Behavior follows the same general rules across species. b). Psychological research should focus on introspection. c). Human subjects are preferable to animals because they replicate the complexity of real life. d). Not all stimuli can be equally paired to form conditioned associations.

a). Behavior follows the same general rules across species.

What is a key distinction between classical conditioning and operant conditioning? a). Classical conditioning generally works best with involuntary, reflexive behaviors; operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors. b). Operant conditioning generally works best with involuntary, reflexive behaviors; classical conditioning involves voluntary behaviors. c). In contrast to classical conditioning, operant conditioning leads to a relatively permanent behavioral change. d). In contrast to operant conditioning, classical conditioning leads to a relatively permanent behavioral change.

a). Classical conditioning generally works best with involuntary, reflexive behaviors; operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors.

Which process below is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience? a). Learning b). Fixed action pattern c). Reflex d). Variable action pattern

a). Learning

As Katie hears a song on the radio, she feels stressed: her heart races, her hands become clammy, and her breathing becomes rapid. The song is familiar because it was very popular at a time when her parents were going through a divorce that caused Katie intense anxiety. In this scenario, identify the unconditioned stimulus. a). Parents fighting b). Anxiety toward parents fighting c). Song d). Anxiety toward song

a). Parents fighting

Which of the following would decrease the likelihood of acquisition? a). The unconditioned stimulus is presented long after the conditioned stimulus. b). The unconditioned stimulus is presented shortly after the conditioned stimulus. c). The conditioned stimulus evokes an emotional response in the participant. d). The unconditioned stimulus evokes a negative response in the participant.

a). The unconditioned stimulus is presented long after the conditioned stimulus.

Tim, who suffers from alcoholism, is prescribed disulfiram by his doctor to help him halt his alcohol consumption. Disulfiram works by causing unpleasant physiological effects when even small amounts of alcohol are consumed. This type of treatment is best described as ____. a). counterconditioning b). flooding c). systematic desensitization d). inhibition

a). counterconditioning

Learning that involves changes in the magnitude of responses to a specific stimulus is referred to as ____ learning. This type of learning does not involve the formation of connections between stimuli. a). nonassociative b). associative c). observational d). operant

a). nonassociative

An environmental cue or event whose significance is learned is referred to as ____. a). an unconditioned stimulus b). a conditioned stimulus c). a characteristic stimulus d). an uncharacteristic stimulus

b). a conditioned stimulus

Jim and his father are watching the ball game on television. Jim's father starts to yawn and Jim soon follows. This is an example of ____. a). associative learning b). an instinct c). a reflex d). imitation

b). an instinct

The formation of associations between two stimuli that occur sequentially in time is referred to as ____. a). operant conditioning b). classical conditioning c). observational conditioning d). associative conditioning

b). classical conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus can predict the nonoccurrence of an unconditioned stimulus, this is referred to as ____. a). extinction b). inhibition c). latent inhibition d). discrimination

b). inhibition

Greg, who mainly smoked cigarettes when out with friends, recently quit smoking. However, each time he visits a bar or restaurant with his friends, he has the strong urge to light up a cigarette. This is an example of ____. a). latent inhibition b). spontaneous recovery c). habituation d). observational learning

b). spontaneous recovery

According to Rescorla and Wagner, the association between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus is strongest when the association is ____. a). consistent b). surprising c). familiar d). variable

b). surprising

What distinguishes a reflex from an instinct? a). In contrast to an instinct, a reflex does not depend on prior experience. b). In contrast to a reflex, an instinct does not depend on prior experience c). An instinct is a more complex behavior than a reflex. d). A behavior is a more complex behavior than an instinct.

c). An instinct is a more complex behavior than a reflex.

Why does associative learning provide an enormous survival advantage? a). Organisms are able to instinctively and rapidly respond to threats. b). Organisms are able to comprehend the complex relationship between environment and habitant. c). Organisms are able to predict the future and thus are given time to prepare for future events. d). Organisms are able to associate with one another to work together against natural enemies.

c). Organisms are able to predict the future and thus are given time to prepare for future events.

As Angel speeds down Elm Avenue, he suddenly slams on his brakes to avoid a collision with another car. Angel's response is an example of ____. a). a reflex b). a variable pattern response c). a learned behavior d). an instinct

c). a learned behavior

Ira has a problem wherein he tends to speak without thinking, and this has caused him to lose friends and damage relationships at work. To reduce the frequency of this behavior, Ira wears a rubber band that fits loosely around his wrist. Whenever he begins to speak without thinking, he snaps himself with the rubber band just hard enough to sting a little bit. This is an example of ______ therapy. a). systematic desensitizing b). insight c). aversion d). flooding

c). aversion

After a devastating fire that destroyed her home, Lisbeth finds that she is startled by the sound of car horns and sirens, the smell of smoke, and loud noises. This is an example of ____. a). observational learning b). habituation c). sensitization d). operant conditioning

c). sensitization

The reappearance of conditioned responses after periods of rest between sessions of extinction training is called ____. a). dominant presentation b). reacquisition c). spontaneous recovery d). higher-order conditioning

c). spontaneous recovery

Tim would like to stop drinking alcohol, but he is finding it difficult to resist the urge to drink when he meets up with friends. Tim's therapist assures him that if he can resist the urge to drink during these social events, his cravings for alcohol will diminish even further, eventually fading away. What process is Tim's therapist describing? a). Avoidance b). Systematic desensitization c). Spontaneous dissipation d). Extinction

d). Extinction

_____ is also known as social learning or modeling and occurs when one organism learns by watching the actions of another organism. a). Classic conditioning b). Nonassociative learning c). Associative learning d). Observational learning

d). Observational learning

What was a key implication of Garcia and Koelling's classic taste-aversion studies? a). The studies demonstrated the common traits of several species. b). The studies confirmed the applicability of classical conditioning in species other than canines. c). The studies demonstrated the relative interchangeability of stimuli. d). The studies challenged Pavlov's views on the interchangeability of stimuli and brought up new information about different organisms' predispositions to learn things.

d). The studies challenged Pavlov's views on the interchangeability of stimuli and brought up new information about different organisms' predispositions to learn things.

Sara allows her dog, Isabel, to run freely at a local park. When a truck drives by and its engine backfires loudly, Isabel quickly jumps up on her hind legs and barks loudly. Isabel's response illustrates ____. a). an instinct b). operant conditioning c). sensitization d). a reflex

d). a reflex

The development of a conditioned response is called ____. a). generalization b). higher-order conditioning c). habituation d). acquisition

d). acquisition

If people are continuously exposed to an unchanging stimulus that they know will not cause them harm, they will most likely ____. a). tolerate the stimulus b). control their reflexes c). form an association with the stimulus d). habituate to the stimulus

d). habituate to the stimulus

Peter's mother normally arrives home from work in a terrible mood, causing Peter extreme anxiety. However, when Peter sees that his mother is wearing sweatpants, Peter feels at ease, knowing that she has been home from work for a while. Peter's recognition that the sweatpants indicate that there is no reason to feel anxious illustrates ____. a). extinction b). latent inhibition c). higher-order conditioning d). inhibition

d). inhibition

Learning is traditionally divided into three categories: associative, nonassociative, and ____. a). classical b). operant c). conditioned d). observational

d). observational

The process of associating a behavior with its consequences is known as ____. a). habituative learning b). nonassociative learning c). classical conditioning d). operant conditioning

d). operant conditioning

Inevitable, involuntary responses to stimuli that are primarily controlled by circuits located in the spinal cord and brainstem are referred to as ____. a). behaviors b). habits c). instincts d). reflexes

d). reflexes

In humans, most reflexes are controlled by nervous system circuits located in the ____. a). back b). legs and arms c). fingertips d). spinal cord and brainstem

d). spinal cord and brainstem

Counterconditioning, in which people relax while being exposed to stimuli that elicit fear, is referred to as ____. a). higher-order conditioning b). habituation c). latent inhibition d). systematic desensitization

d). systematic desensitization