BMB: Session 5A-5B: 45 Questions

A child stops receiving candy for cleaning up toys, and initially cleans up more frequently before stopping. What is this initial increase called?

• Reinforcement surge

• Extinction burst

• Spontaneous recovery

• Resistance peak

Answer explanation

The initial increase in cleaning up toys after the child stops receiving candy is called an Extinction burst.

What phenomenon occurs when a behavior that had decreased during extinction reappears after a period without reinforcement?

• Spontaneous recovery

• Resurgence

• Reinforcement burst

• Behavioral relapse

Answer explanation

Spontaneous recovery is the phenomenon where a behavior that had decreased during extinction reappears after a period without reinforcement.

If a coffee shop stops rewarding customers with a free coffee after every ten purchases, and customers gradually stop coming, what principle is at work?

• Satiation

• Extinction

• Negative punishment

• Positive punishment

Answer explanation

The principle at work is Extinction, because the coffee shop stops giving the gift --> causes the action to be extinct

If a habitual jaywalker stops jaywalking because the new traffic lights no longer allow it without consequence, what has occurred?

• Punishment application

• Extinction of the behavior

• Negative reinforcement

• Positive reinforcement

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Extinction of the behavior' because the behavior of jaywalking has ceased due to the new traffic lights preventing it without consequence.

When a student stops texting during class because the teacher no longer responds to the texts, what process is the student experiencing?

• Punishment

• Extinction

• Negative reinforcement

• Positive reinforcement

Answer explanation

The student is experiencing extinction when the behavior of texting stops due to the lack of response from the teacher.

How does the schedule of reinforcement affect resistance to extinction?

• Continuous schedules lead to faster extinction

• Variable schedules have no effect on extinction

• Partial reinforcement schedules result in greater resistance to extinction

• The schedule of reinforcement is irrelevant

Answer explanation

Partial reinforcement schedules result in greater resistance to extinction as they create a stronger association between the behavior and the reward, making the behavior more persistent.

A teenager's use of foul language decreases after friends stop laughing at the words. This change in behavior is best explained by:

• Extinction

• Positive punishment

• Negative punishment

• Social ostracization

Answer explanation

The change in behavior, where foul language decreases after friends stop laughing, is best explained by extinction, which is the gradual decrease in the frequency or intensity of a behavior when it is no longer reinforced.

What is the primary goal of extinction in behavioral psychology?

• To increase a behavior

• To decrease or eliminate a behavior

• To introduce new behaviors

• To reinforce existing behaviors

Answer explanation

The primary goal of extinction in behavioral psychology is to decrease or eliminate a behavior, not to increase it or introduce new behaviors.

Carrying an umbrella to avoid getting wet is an example of:

• Escape behavior

• Avoidance behavior

• Positive reinforcement

• Negative reinforcement

Answer explanation

Carrying an umbrella to avoid getting wet is an example of avoidance behavior as it involves preventing a negative outcome.

If a dog learns to sit to receive treats, but the treats stop, the dog's eventual decrease in sitting behavior is due to:

• Negative reinforcement

• Positive reinforcement

• Extinction

• Punishment

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Extinction' because the decrease in sitting behavior occurs when the previously reinforced behavior (receiving treats) is no longer followed by the reinforcement (treats).