1810 - Unit 2 - CH 5-8

Four-year-old Brenda is terrified of doctors and nurses because of the vaccinations she receives during medical visits. When her older brother puts on a white lab coat for a Halloween party, she begins to sob uncontrollably. This is an example of:

• latent learning.

• operant learning.

• classical conditioning.

• observational learning.

Answer explanation

This is an example of classical conditioning, where Brenda associates the sight of a white lab coat with the fear and pain of vaccinations, leading to her sobbing when she sees her brother in the coat.

Jackson watched his older brother hit a punching bag at home. Later, when Jackson was left alone with the punching bag, he also started hitting it. Jackson learned this behavior by:

• reinforcement.

• punishment.

• observation.

• insight.

Answer explanation

Jackson learned to hit the punching bag by observing his older brother. This is an example of observational learning, where one acquires new behaviors by watching others.

Which of the following is an example of a classically conditioned response?

• Working harder for an A grade.

• Driving at a lower speed because you received a speeding ticket.

• Getting hungry when a warm blueberry muffin is placed on your plate.

• Getting anxious when you sit down in the dentist’s chair.

Answer explanation

Getting anxious when you sit down in the dentist’s chair is a classically conditioned response, as it involves a learned emotional reaction to a specific stimulus (the dentist's chair) associated with past experiences.

James is observing a chimpanzee in a research setting. The chimpanzee faces the challenge of retrieving a banana that is out of reach. After some time, the chimpanzee suddenly uses a stick as a tool to get the banana, without having been shown how to do this before. James recalls Wolfgang Köhler’s classic work with chimpanzees and tools. This scenario provides an early research basis for the occurrence of what type of learning?

• Classical conditioning

• Insight learning

• Operant conditioning

• Observational learning

Answer explanation

The chimpanzee's sudden use of a stick to retrieve the banana demonstrates insight learning, where the animal solves a problem through a sudden realization, as seen in Kohler's studies.

Tyler receives food as a reward for completing his homework. This type of reward, which meets a basic biological need, is called a:

• primary reinforcer.

• secondary reinforcer.

• negative reinforcer.

• neutral stimulus.

Answer explanation

A primary reinforcer is a stimulus that satisfies a basic biological need, such as food. Since Tyler receives food as a reward for completing his homework, it qualifies as a primary reinforcer.

After taking piano lessons for several months, Justin notices that he can now play songs she couldn't play before. This relatively permanent change in his ability that comes about as a result of experience is known as:

• learning.

• memory.

• cognition.

• reinforcement.

Answer explanation

The change in Justin's ability to play the piano is a result of practice and experience, which is defined as learning. Unlike memory, cognition, or reinforcement, learning involves acquiring new skills through experience.

A child whines for over ten minutes, demanding a cookie from the babysitter. The babysitter puts in her earbuds and ignores the child until she gives up. The child no longer whines for a cookie. Which type of operant conditioning process does this describe?

• Positive Reinforcement

• Positive Punishment

• Extinction

• Shaping

Answer explanation

This scenario illustrates extinction, where the child's whining behavior is ignored by the babysitter. Over time, the child learns that whining does not result in getting a cookie, leading to a decrease in that behavior.

Grace observes her older brother successfully solving a puzzle and then tries to solve it herself by imitating his strategies. Bandura’s work contributed to the development of which theory that best explains Grace’s learning in this situation?

• Cognitive theory of classical conditioning

• Social-cognitive theory

• Operant conditioning

• Latent learning

Answer explanation

Grace's learning through imitation of her brother aligns with Bandura's social-cognitive theory, which emphasizes learning through observation and modeling behaviors, rather than through direct experience or conditioning.

Classically conditioned responses can be strengthened or weakened by manipulating:

• the organism being conditioned.

• the process of pairing stimuli.

• the type of neutral stimulus presented.

• the time of day at which the conditioning procedure is done.

Answer explanation

The process of pairing stimuli is crucial in classical conditioning, as it determines how effectively the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus, thereby strengthening or weakening the conditioned response.

You were previously bitten by a large dog in your neighbor’s yard that jumped its fence. Now, whenever you walk by the neighbor’s yard, your palms become sweaty, and you notice your heart rate increase. Which describes the physiological arousal you experience when you walk past the yard, even if the dog is not outside?

• Conditioned Response

• Conditioned Stimulus

• Unconditioned Stimulus

• Unconditioned Response

Answer explanation

The physiological arousal you experience, like sweaty palms and increased heart rate, is a conditioned response. This occurs because the previous dog bite (unconditioned stimulus) has created an association with the neighbor's yard (conditioned stimulus).