psych exam 3

We transform information into a form that can be entered and retained by the memory system. This process is known as:

encoding

While auditory sensory memory can last for about _____, visual sensory memory lasts for about _____.

3 to 4 seconds; half a second

Which of the following statements best captures the basic idea of operant conditioning?

Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences.

.TRUE/FALSE: While positive reinforcement increases or strengthens a response, negative reinforcement decreases or weakens a response.

False

If a classically conditioned dog salivates not just to the original tone, but also to a higher pitched and a lower-pitched tone, the process of stimulus discrimination has occurred.

False

TRUE/FALSE: If a classically conditioned dog salivates not just to the original tone, but also to a higher pitched and a lower-pitched tone, the process of stimulus discrimination has occurred.

False

TRUE/FALSE: Research on taste aversions clearly shows that in order for classical conditioning to occur, the interval between the CS and the UCS can be no more than a few seconds.

False

TRUE/FALSE: Sensory memory is also called "working memory."

False

Christina is making some extra money as a phone solicitor for her university's fund-raising drive. She is paid $5 for every 20 calls she makes, regardless of whether the person donates. Christina is on a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

Fixed-ratio

Why do variable-ratio schedules produce steady rates of responding?

It is not possible to predict which response will lead to the delivery of a reinforcer.

Which of the following statements best captures the essence of Thorndike's law of effect?

Rewarded behaviors are more likely to be repeated, while unrewarded behaviors are less likely to be repeated.

TRUE/FALSE: B.F. Skinner shared the view of John Watson that psychology should restrict itself to studying objectively observable behaviors, not mental processes.

True

TRUE/FALSE: Edward Tolman's research on rats running mazes led him to conclude that reinforcement was not necessary for learning to occur.

True

TRUE/FALSE: In John Watson and Rosalie Rayner's Little Albert study the unconditioned stimulus was a loud clang, and the conditioned stimulus was a tame white rat.

True

TRUE/FALSE: In training various animals to perform tricks, Marian and Keller Breland discovered that certain natural behavior patterns interfered with the operant behaviors they were attempting to condition in some animals, a phenomenon called "instinctive drift."

True

TRUE/FALSE: John Watson and Rosalie Rayner made no effort to eliminate the fear they conditioned in the infant called Little Albert.

True

TRUE/FALSE: The stage model of memory consists of three distinct stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

True

In response to cutting up an onion, airborne irritants released by the onion will cause your eyes to automatically water or produce tears. Using Pavlov's terminology, the tears would be termed a(n):

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Road construction prevents you from getting to the shopping mall using the route that you always travel. You think about the situation for a moment and then come up with a different route to take. To figure out this alternative route, you are using what Tolman referred to as:

a cognitive map

The famous Bobo doll study demonstrated that:

children are less likely to imitate the actions of someone who has been punished for his or her actions than the actions of someone who has been rewarded.

Awards, frequent flyer points, and college degrees are examples of:

conditioned reinforcers.

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses is called:

conditioning

In classical conditioning, if the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, what will occur?

extinction

Clint used the vending machine near his dorm quite frequently, but the last few times he tried to get a drink the vending machine malfunctioned and he lost his money. Now he no longer uses this vending machine. Which of the following has occurred in this situation?

extinction of an operant behavior

Martin Seligman noted that phobias seem to be quite selective, involving only certain stimuli. To explain this, Seligman proposed that:

humans are biologically prepared to develop fears of objects or situations that may once have posed a threat to humans' evolutionary ancestors.

Positive reinforcement _____ the likelihood of a behavior's being repeated. Negative reinforcement _____ the likelihood of a behavior's being repeated.

increases; increases

Roy is having trouble passing his calculus course. No matter how hard he studies, he cannot seem to pass a calculus test. Eventually, Roy gives up and stops studying or even coming to calculus class. Roy's behavior can be explained as an example of:

learned helplessness

To keep from getting mosquito bites when he mows the lawn, Kevin always sprays himself with insect repellent before he starts mowing. Using operant conditioning terms, this is an example of:

negative reinforcement (by avoidance).

Prior to conditioning, a dog does not salivate to the sound of a ticking metronome. At this point, the ticking metronome is a(n):

neutral stimulus

An employee wears jeans to work and is reprimanded by his supervisor for dressing inappropriately. From then on, the employee wears a suit and tie to work. This is an example of:

positive punishment

Classical conditioning involves _____, while operant conditioning involves _____.

reflexive behaviors; voluntary behaviors

"Okay, that was good! Now this time, don't close your eyes. Keep your eye on the ball, so you know when to close your hands," Mark said in the process of teaching his five-year-old to play catch. In operant conditioning terms, Mark is using _____ to teach his daughter how to catch a ball.

shaping

If you own a dog that tends to salivate and get excited when you shake a box of dog biscuits, you may have noticed that your dog also drools when you shake a bag of cat food. If so, this would be an example of:

stimulus generalization

Conditioned taste aversions demonstrate

the certain stimuli are easier to associate than others

In Watson and Rayner's famous "Little Albert" study, what was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

the loud clanging sound

What was Pavlov studying when he began his studies on the phenomenon that eventually became known as classical conditioning?

the role of saliva in digestion

Jonathan frequently plays the slot machines and sometimes comes out slightly ahead in his winnings. Like all gambling behavior, Jonathan's gambling behavior is on a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

variable-ratio

Sperling's classic experiment in which he briefly flashed three rows of letters on a screen immediately followed by a tone demonstrated that:

visual sensory memory holds a great deal of information for about half a second.

The basic strategy for overcoming learned helplessness is to:

withdraw from the situation.