Classical And Operant Conditioning
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Which of the following would be an example of learning?
- A.
A newborn infant sucks on a nipple filled with milk.
- B.
A teenager falls asleep after staying awake for 96 hours.
- C.
A rat presses a lever to obtain a food pellet.
- D.
A patient clenches his teeth when he sees the dentist's drill, even though he has never had a tooth filled.
- E.
A student umps when she hears someone drop a book in the library stacks.
Correct Answer
C. A rat presses a lever to obtain a food pellet.Explanation
The behavior of the rat pressing a lever to obtain a food pellet demonstrates learning. The rat has associated the action of pressing the lever with the reward of obtaining food, and has learned to perform this behavior in order to receive the desired outcome. This shows that the rat has acquired new knowledge or skills through experience, which is a key characteristic of learning.Rate this question:
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- 2.
While walking down a dark alley, you jump at a loud noise. This would not be considered learning because
- A.
It is not a behavior.
- B.
Jumping is a difficult skill, biologically speaking.
- C.
Jumping is only done for survival purposes.
- D.
Jumping is merely a reflex.
- E.
Not everyone would jump in this situation.
Correct Answer
D. Jumping is merely a reflex.Explanation
Jumping at a loud noise in a dark alley is considered a reflex rather than a learned behavior. Reflexes are automatic responses to stimuli that do not require conscious thought or learning. In this situation, the loud noise triggers an involuntary muscle contraction that causes the person to jump. This reflexive action is a natural and instinctive response to a sudden and unexpected stimulus, rather than a behavior that is learned or acquired through experience.Rate this question:
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- 3.
If you salivate when your mother calls you to dinner, we can attribute your reaction to
- A.
Stimulus generalization.
- B.
Olfactory hallucinations.
- C.
Operant conditioning.
- D.
Observational learning.
- E.
Classical conditioning.
Correct Answer
E. Classical conditioning.Explanation
Classical conditioning is the process of learning by association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflexive response. In this scenario, the mother calling the person to dinner is the neutral stimulus, while the salivation is the reflexive response. Over time, the person has learned to associate the mother's call with the anticipation of a meal, leading to the salivation response. This is a classic example of classical conditioning.Rate this question:
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- 4.
In order for the UCS to cause a UCR in Pavlov's study,
- A.
The participant must receive either punishment or reinforcement.
- B.
The dog must salivate at the sound of the bell.
- C.
There must be no learning.
- D.
The participant receiving the UCS must be hungry.
- E.
There must be a critical impact of insight.
Correct Answer
C. There must be no learning.Explanation
The correct answer is "there must be no learning." In Pavlov's study, the UCS (unconditioned stimulus) is typically something that naturally elicits a response, such as food, while the UCR (unconditioned response) is the natural response to the UCS, such as salivation. In order for the UCS to cause a UCR, there must be no learning involved, meaning that the response is not a result of any conditioning or association. If there was learning involved, it would be a conditioned response rather than an unconditioned response.Rate this question:
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- 5.
In Pavlov's experiments, a tone was the ______, and food was the _____.
- A.
A CR is to an operant stimulus
- B.
A CS is to an UCS
- C.
An orienting response is to a CS
- D.
An UCS is to an UCR
- E.
A neutral stimulus is to a CR
Correct Answer
B. A CS is to an UCSExplanation
In Pavlov's experiments, a tone was the conditioned stimulus (CS), and food was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS).Rate this question:
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- 6.
If Pavlov's dogs had been adopted by a nice family after the experiments ended and they eventually stopped salivating to a bell, but then suddenly when the door bell rang they began salivating again, they would be demonstrating
- A.
An unconditioned response.
- B.
Stimulus discrimination.
- C.
Extinction.
- D.
Spontaneous recovery.
- E.
A neutral response.
Correct Answer
D. Spontaneous recovery.Explanation
Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction. In this scenario, the dogs had stopped salivating to the bell, indicating extinction. However, when the doorbell rang, they began salivating again, suggesting that the conditioned response had spontaneously recovered. This phenomenon occurs because the original association between the bell and salivation is not completely erased during extinction, and can resurface under certain circumstances.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Robert's dog, Fuzzy, runs to Robert when he says, "Come." If one day, Fuzzy comes running when Robert says, "Dumb," we might say that Fuzzy has demonstrated
- A.
Insight learning.
- B.
Spontaneous recovery.
- C.
Social learning.
- D.
Stimulus generalization.
- E.
Intermittent reinforcement.
Correct Answer
D. Stimulus generalization.Explanation
In this scenario, Fuzzy, the dog, has associated the command "Come" with running to Robert. However, when Robert says "Dumb," Fuzzy still comes running. This behavior suggests that Fuzzy has generalized the stimulus, associating not just the specific command "Come," but also similar sounding words or commands with the same action. This is known as stimulus generalization, where an organism responds to similar stimuli in the same way as the original stimulus.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Meredith is an expert on wine, In a fine restaurant, she orders a glass of Santa Margarita pinot grigio. When the wine comes out she tastes it and claims that she received Mezzacorona pinot grigio instead. Merideth is demonstrating
- A.
Stimulus discrimination.
- B.
Stimulus generalization.
- C.
Extinction.
- D.
Spontaneous recovery.
- E.
An unconditioned response.
Correct Answer
A. Stimulus discrimination.Explanation
Meredith is demonstrating stimulus discrimination because she is able to differentiate between two similar stimuli (Santa Margarita pinot grigio and Mezzacorona pinot grigio) and identify the difference in taste. This shows that she has learned to respond differently to each stimulus based on their unique characteristics.Rate this question:
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- 9.
In the Little Albert experiment when the rat was presented with the loud noise, the rat was the _______ and the noise was the ______.
- A.
UCS; CS
- B.
CS; UCS
- C.
CS; CR
- D.
UCS; NS
- E.
CR; UCS
Correct Answer
B. CS; UCSExplanation
In the Little Albert experiment, the rat was initially a neutral stimulus (NS) as it did not elicit any response from Albert. However, when the rat was repeatedly paired with the loud noise (unconditioned stimulus or UCS), it became associated with fear and started to elicit a fear response from Albert. Therefore, the rat became the conditioned stimulus (CS) as it now triggered a conditioned response (CR), which was fear. The loud noise remained the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) as it naturally elicited fear in Albert.Rate this question:
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- 10.
In operant conditioning, behavioral change is brought about by the manipulation of
- A.
Consequences
- B.
Motives
- C.
Goals
- D.
Reflexes
- E.
Thoughts
Correct Answer
A. ConsequencesExplanation
In operant conditioning, behavioral change is brought about by the manipulation of consequences. This means that the consequences of a behavior, such as rewards or punishments, can influence and shape future behavior. By providing positive consequences for desired behaviors and negative consequences for undesired behaviors, individuals are more likely to repeat or avoid those behaviors in the future. This process helps to reinforce or extinguish certain behaviors, ultimately leading to behavioral change.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Operant behaviors are different from those in classical conditioning because, in classical conditioning, the behaviors are
- A.
Observed
- B.
Voluntary
- C.
Reinforced
- D.
Cognitive
- E.
Involutary
Correct Answer
E. InvolutaryExplanation
Operant behaviors are different from those in classical conditioning because operant behaviors are voluntary, while behaviors in classical conditioning are involuntary. In classical conditioning, behaviors are typically reflexive responses to stimuli, whereas operant behaviors are actions that are consciously initiated by an individual. Therefore, the correct answer is "involuntary" because it distinguishes operant behaviors from those in classical conditioning.Rate this question:
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- 12.
___________ are consequences that alter the likelihood of behaviors.
- A.
Successive approximations
- B.
Discrimination and generalization
- C.
Conditioned and unconditioned stimuli
- D.
Rewards and punishments
- E.
Conditioned and unconditioned reflexes
Correct Answer
D. Rewards and punishmentsExplanation
Rewards and punishments are consequences that can alter the likelihood of behaviors. When individuals are rewarded for a behavior, they are more likely to repeat it in the future. On the other hand, punishments decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. By associating behaviors with positive or negative consequences, rewards and punishments shape and influence future behavior choices.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Negative and positive reinforcers are similar in that these always ______ the likelihood of ensuing responses.
- A.
Increase
- B.
Extinguish
- C.
Decrease
- D.
Eliminate
- E.
Have no effect on
Correct Answer
A. IncreaseExplanation
Negative and positive reinforcers are similar in that they both increase the likelihood of ensuing responses. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a desired behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Positive reinforcers involve the presentation of a pleasant stimulus after a desired behavior, also increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In both cases, the reinforcement serves to strengthen the connection between the behavior and the desired outcome, making it more likely to occur in the future.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Negative reinforcement involves
- A.
Providing an unpleasant stimulus periodically during the day.
- B.
The learning of a new response.
- C.
The removal of an aversive stimulus
- D.
Decreasing the likelihood of certain future behaviors.
- E.
Pairing an old reflex with a new stimulus.
Correct Answer
C. The removal of an aversive stimulusExplanation
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus. This means that when a behavior is performed, something unpleasant or aversive is taken away, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. It is a form of conditioning where the removal of the aversive stimulus acts as a reward, reinforcing the desired behavior. This is different from positive reinforcement, where a pleasant stimulus is provided to increase the likelihood of a behavior.Rate this question:
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- 15.
A positive reinforcer is used to ______ desired behavior. A negative reiforcer is used to _______ desired behavior.
- A.
Increase; increase
- B.
Increase; decrease
- C.
Decrease; decrease
- D.
Decrease; increase
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
A. Increase; increaseExplanation
A positive reinforcer is used to increase desired behavior by providing a reward or incentive when the behavior is exhibited. This positive stimulus strengthens the behavior and encourages its repetition. Similarly, a negative reinforcer is also used to increase desired behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus or consequence when the behavior is exhibited. This removal of negative consequences serves as a reward and reinforces the behavior, increasing the likelihood of its recurrence.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 22, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Mar 31, 2011Quiz Created by
Levaque
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