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WorksheetsAP Psych Unit 6 Formative Assessment, 2025-26
Total questions: 250
Worksheet time: 2hrs 5mins
Which of the following best defines the behavioral perspective in psychology?
A theory that human behavior is rooted in evolutionary traits and instincts
A view that human decisions are driven by unconscious childhood conflicts
A theory suggesting that behavior is learned and is shaped by environmental factors
A view that emphasizes the importance of self-actualization and free will
A theory suggesting that behavior is learned and is shaped by environmental factors is known as:
Humanistic perspective
Cognitive perspective
Behavioral perspective
Biological perspective
Which of the following would most support a behavioral psychologist’s explanation of anxiety?
The person inherited a chemical imbalance and responds emotionally
The person unconsciously associates fear with authority figures
The person learned to feel anxious through repeated punishment
The person is failing to meet their ideal potential and needs affirmation
A psychologist notices students sit quietly after the bell rings because it was always followed by a teacher’s command. This example best supports which view?
Their behavior is caused by unconscious drives
Their behavior was shaped through classical conditioning
Their behavior is internally motivated by cognition
Their behavior was learned from environmental triggers
Which behavior would a behavioral psychologist most likely want to study in a lab setting?
A person meditating to reduce inner conflict
A subject choosing to stay in a room when loud sounds are played
A subject reporting on their dreams after a nap
A person journaling about their internal motivations
Classical conditioning refers to:
Learning when a consequence follows a voluntary behavior
Learning that occurs through imitation and observation
A learning process when a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a response
A learning process driven by rewards and punishments
A learning process that occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a natural response is called:
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Latent learning
Observational learning
Which of the following shows a moderate case of classical conditioning in an everyday setting?
A child brushes teeth only after being yelled at
A dog salivates when hearing the treat jar open
A student memorizes terms by making flashcards
A teenager runs faster after encouragement from peers
A researcher rings a bell each time food is given to a rat. Eventually, the rat salivates at the bell alone. This demonstrates:
Operant reinforcement of behaviors
Observational modeling of learned actions
Classical conditioning of a natural response
Latent learning from environment exposure
Which of these behaviors best represents an application of classical conditioning in a therapy setting?
Teaching relaxation when exposed to a feared object
Giving tokens after correct answers on a test
Modeling confidence during role-play exercises
Rewarding desired behavior with praise and snacks
Association is best described as:
Reinforcing a behavior with positive consequences
Pairing a stimulus with another to trigger a behavior
Learning by watching and copying others’ actions
Encoding sensory memory through repetition and imagery
Pairing one stimulus with another to create a learned response is called:
Social learning
Association
Motivation
Generalization
Which of the following shows a subtle degree of learned association?
A child throws a tantrum only after being denied a toy
A person flinches when seeing a dentist’s chair
A student raises a hand before speaking to answer
A shopper remembers a jingle after repeated ads
A child hears the garage door and runs to the door because it often means their parent is home. This behavior illustrates:
Vicarious reinforcement of action
Association between sound and parental arrival
Social mimicry of adult responses
Operant shaping through praise
A dog tenses up when it hears keys jingling because that sound is linked to being left alone. This behavior is best explained by:
Positive punishment
Association of two stimuli causing a learned reaction
Shaping through observational feedback
Spontaneous recovery after extinction
Acquisition in classical conditioning refers to:
The loss of a conditioned response over time
The return of a conditioned response after extinction
The initial learning of a stimulus-response link
The shifting of attention toward novel stimuli
The stage when a neutral stimulus first starts to produce a conditioned response is called:
Maintenance
Acquisition
Habituation
Spontaneous recovery
A student hears a click before a puff of air hits their eye. After many trials, they blink at the click alone. This is an example of:
Habituation to repeated stimuli
Acquisition of a conditioned reflex
Modeling of a voluntary behavior
Recovery from an extinguished response
During an experiment, a rat hears a buzzer just before a mild shock. After several pairings, it freezes at the buzzer sound. Which term best applies to this moment of learning?
Generalization
Acquisition of the response through pairing
Spontaneous recovery
Reinforcement by punishment
In a therapy session, a client begins to associate calm music with reduced anxiety after repeated pairings. This learning stage is best called:
Operant reinforcement
Acquisition phase of conditioning
Reconditioning of an extinguished response
Secondary reinforcement
Associative learning can best be described as:
Learning that occurs when an action is repeated over time
Learning when two things occur together to form a behavior
Learning based on internal mental reasoning and planning
Learning that occurs after the behavior has already been reinforced
Learning that two things happen together is known as:
Classical response
Associative learning
Reflex conditioning
Cognitive rehearsal
Which scenario best reflects a high degree of associative learning?
A child pets a cat after being told it’s friendly
A dog runs to the door when it hears a specific ringtone
A student studies more after seeing their grade drop
A person imitates a sibling’s hairstyle choices
A trainer says “good job” immediately after a dog sits. Over time, the dog sits as soon as the phrase is spoken. This is an example of:
Delayed punishment effects
Observational learning through modeling
Associative learning of phrase and behavior
Operant avoidance through verbal cue
A teen begins to feel sleepy whenever they see their favorite blanket. This pattern best illustrates:
Inherited instinctual behavior
Associative learning from repeated pairings
Operant response to reward
Negative reinforcement of a sleep cycle
Which of the following is an example of an unconditioned stimulus?
A bell that a dog hears before getting food
A tone that was paired with a puff of air
A puff of air that causes someone to blink
A flashing light used to indicate a reward
A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response is called:
Conditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
Unconditioned stimulus
In a lab setting, a dog begins salivating when presented with food, without any training. What is the food in this case?
Conditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned stimulus
Operant reinforcer
Which of the following best reflects a subtle change in how an unconditioned stimulus operates in different settings?
A loud tone causes fear only after a shock is paired
Food causes salivation whether it’s in a bowl or a hand
A clicker sound triggers jumping after training
A buzzer leads to sitting after being reinforced
A researcher finds that a new smell causes dogs to salivate without prior exposure. How should this smell be categorized?
As a secondary reinforcer
As an unconditioned response
As an unconditioned stimulus
As an extinguished behavior
Which of the following is an example of an unconditioned response?
Salivating when food is placed in the mouth
Salivating after hearing a bell
Salivating when thinking about eating
Salivating after being told it’s mealtime
An unlearned, naturally occurring response to a stimulus is called a(n):
Conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
Conditioned response
Learned behavior
A baby cries when a loud noise startles them. What is the baby’s crying in this scenario?
A neutral stimulus
An unconditioned response
A conditioned response
A learned behavior
Which of the following shows a moderate form of an unconditioned response in humans?
Ducking after seeing a thrown object
Blinking after a puff of air hits the eye
Turning toward a new sound in a room
Sitting quietly when told to be respectful
In a study, infants are shown bright lights followed by a puff of air. Initially, they blink at the air. What is the blinking called in this phase?
Conditioned reaction
Unconditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Neutral behavior
What is a conditioned stimulus?
A response that occurs naturally in reaction to a stimulus
A neutral stimulus that now causes a learned response
A learned behavior that happens after reinforcement
A stimulus that once triggered a reflex without learning
A neutral stimulus that becomes linked to a response after association is called:
Conditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
After pairing a bell with food, a dog salivates at the bell. What is the bell in this case?
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
Unconditioned response
Unconditioned stimulus
In a research study, students flinch at the sound of a buzzer that was repeatedly paired with a puff of air. What role does the buzzer now play?
It’s a neutral stimulus still needing association
It is a conditioned stimulus
It is an unconditioned stimulus
It is a spontaneous reinforcer
Which scenario demonstrates a strong case of a conditioned stimulus forming a learned behavior?
A student gets hungry when walking past a lunchroom they often eat in
A child jumps after an unexpected firework
A teen flinches after being tapped on the shoulder
A pet comes running only after smelling food
What is a conditioned response?
A reflexive action that doesn’t require learning
A behavior that follows punishment
A learned reaction to a neutral stimulus
A natural reaction to an unconditioned stimulus
A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus is known as:
Unconditioned reaction
Conditioned response
Reflex behavior
Operant conditioning
A dog salivates when it hears a bell that has been paired with food. What is the salivation now considered?
Conditioned response
Unconditioned stimulus
Neutral reaction
Operant behavior
A student begins to feel nervous upon hearing the school bell before a hard exam. The nervousness is best described as:
An automatic reaction from a primary stimulus
A conditioned response
An unconditioned response
A spontaneous behavior
In a clinical trial, patients feel calm when hearing music previously paired with relaxation exercises. What is this calm feeling?
A delayed reinforcer
A conditioned response
A generalized effect
A natural, unlearned behavior
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
The formation of a new learned response
The pairing of a neutral stimulus with a reflex
The gradual weakening of a learned response
The repetition of a behavior with reinforcement
The weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response is called:
Habituation
Generalization
Extinction
Reconditioning
In a classroom, a teacher stops praising students for answering questions. Over time, they stop raising their hands. This is an example of:
Spontaneous recovery
Extinction of a learned response
Operant reinforcement
Reacquisition
Which of the following is a moderate example of extinction in everyday learning?
A dog sits after hearing a command for the first time
A student forgets material after cramming before a test
A dog stops responding to a bell that no longer signals food
A child stops whining after being disciplined
After several trials where the bell is presented without food, the dog no longer salivates at the bell. What psychological process is occurring?
Reinforcement
Conditioning
Extinction
Generalization
What is spontaneous recovery?
When a neutral stimulus is paired with a second stimulus
When a learned response reappears after extinction and rest
When a behavior is immediately reinforced after extinction
When a stimulus becomes generalized to other stimuli
The return of a learned behavior after extinction and rest is known as:
Stimulus discrimination
Spontaneous recovery
Higher-order conditioning
Stimulus generalization
After a conditioned response disappears and returns the next day without training, the response illustrates:
Counterconditioning
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
Stimulus discrimination
A rat is trained to press a lever when hearing a bell. After the behavior goes extinct, it reappears the next day without retraining. This shows:
Higher-order conditioning
Spontaneous recovery
Extinction in progress
Classical reinforcement
Which scenario best demonstrates spontaneous recovery in a clinical context?
A patient relaxes when hearing music after months of no sessions
A subject mimics behavior modeled earlier in a lesson
A child generalizes a fear from dogs to cats
A reward system is altered to shape behavior
Stimulus discrimination refers to:
Responding to all similar stimuli with a learned behavior
Responding only to the original conditioned stimulus
Associating one neutral stimulus with another new one
Blocking a learned response using punishment
When a subject only responds to the specific conditioned stimulus and not to similar ones, it is called:
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
Stimulus discrimination
Counterconditioning
A dog is conditioned to bark at a specific bell tone but not others. This behavior illustrates:
Stimulus discrimination
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
Higher-order conditioning
In an experiment, a child reacts only to a red balloon that was previously paired with a loud noise but shows no reaction to blue or green balloons. This best demonstrates:
Counterconditioning
Stimulus generalization
Stimulus discrimination
Extinction effects
Which of the following situations demonstrates the clearest case of stimulus discrimination?
A student only gets nervous when hearing one specific ringtone linked to pop quizzes
A child is startled by any sudden loud sound
A teen imitates all teachers’ speaking habits
A dog salivates at both the bell and the doorbell
What is stimulus generalization?
Responding to only the original conditioned stimulus
A return of behavior after extinction
A response to stimuli similar to the conditioned one
A new association between two unrelated stimuli
When a subject shows a conditioned response to stimuli similar to the original one, it is called:
Stimulus discrimination
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
Higher-order conditioning
A child hears a loud bang and cries. Afterward, they cry at the sound of balloons popping or thunder. This response illustrates:
Stimulus generalization
Stimulus discrimination
Counterconditioning
Extinction
A researcher trains a dog to respond to a buzzer, but the dog also reacts to a doorbell and horn. What is the dog demonstrating?
Spontaneous recovery
Stimulus generalization
Extinction effects
Discriminated behavior
Which of the following best reflects stimulus generalization in a workplace setting?
A worker reacts nervously to any alarm tone after hearing one during a fire drill
A manager rewards only one specific performance behavior
An employee tunes out background noise during deep focus
A team only responds when given verbal directions
Higher-order conditioning is best defined as:
Learning by watching another person’s behavior
When a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral one
A learned behavior that naturally fades over time
A stimulus that triggers an unconditioned response
When a conditioned stimulus becomes linked to a new neutral stimulus and causes a learned behavior, this is called:
Counterconditioning
Higher-order conditioning
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
A dog first learns to salivate to a bell that predicts food. Then it begins to salivate to a flashing light that predicts the bell. What is occurring?
Extinction of response
Higher-order conditioning
Stimulus discrimination
Classical reinforcement
A therapist conditions relaxation using music. Later, a specific scent is paired with that music and also causes relaxation. What learning has occurred?
Stimulus generalization
Higher-order conditioning
Spontaneous recovery
Counterconditioning
Which of the following shows a complex example of higher-order conditioning?
A teen feels anxious seeing the hallway where they once heard a fire alarm that followed a drill
A student stops reacting to a once-feared sound
A person relaxes when hearing familiar calming music
A dog ignores commands when not reinforced
Counterconditioning is best described as:
When a behavior returns after being extinguished
When a negative stimulus is paired with a positive one
When reinforcement occurs at random intervals
When a learned response disappears over time
A technique where a negative stimulus is paired with a positive one to reduce fear is called:
Spontaneous recovery
Counterconditioning
Stimulus discrimination
Higher-order conditioning
In therapy, a child afraid of dogs is shown a calm dog while eating their favorite snack. This is an example of:
Counterconditioning
Higher-order conditioning
Extinction through punishment
Stimulus generalization
Which scenario shows the best application of counterconditioning in a therapeutic setting?
A client with a fear of flying watches planes while listening to soothing music
A student studies in silence to improve focus
A patient talks through fears without emotional cues
A teacher offers candy for right answers
A patient is shown images of feared objects while experiencing guided breathing techniques. Over time, fear decreases. What principle is at work?
Extinction
Stimulus generalization
Counterconditioning
Spontaneous recovery
What is the term for avoiding a certain food after getting sick from eating it?
Biological preparedness
Operant reinforcement
Taste aversion
Conditioned suppression
The avoidance of a food following illness after consumption is known as:
Spontaneous recovery
Taste aversion
Higher-order conditioning
Stimulus discrimination
A person eats oysters, gets food poisoning, and avoids seafood for years. This behavior best reflects:
Stimulus generalization
Biological preparedness
Taste aversion
Positive punishment
A psychologist notices that patients who became ill after eating specific foods tend to avoid only those foods. This observation supports:
Extinction
Latent learning
Taste aversion
Stimulus discrimination
Which behavior best demonstrates taste aversion in a natural setting?
A raccoon avoids berries after becoming ill the first time
A dog stops responding to a bell that’s no longer followed by food
A student dislikes math after struggling with multiple assignments
A teen copies a trend seen on social media
One-trial conditioning refers to:
Learning that occurs after repeated exposure to a stimulus
Learning that results from a single powerful experience
Learning based on multiple consequences and rewards
Learning that occurs with observational repetition
If a condition is extreme, learning can happen in one exposure. This is called:
Stimulus discrimination
Higher-order learning
One-trial conditioning
Successive approximation
A hiker eats a wild fruit and gets violently ill. From then on, they avoid that fruit entirely. This best reflects:
Classical extinction
One-trial conditioning
Operant punishment
Stimulus generalization
A researcher studies fear conditioning and finds that one loud noise is enough to cause a child to fear a location. This supports:
Stimulus discrimination
One-trial conditioning
Latent inhibition
Reconditioning
Which scenario best applies the concept of one-trial conditioning?
A soldier associates a location with trauma after a single explosion
A student learns to solve a problem after daily repetition
A cat learns to avoid a box after being placed in it many times
A child mimics a parent after watching them several times
Biological preparedness is best described as:
A tendency to associate stimuli over time
An instinctive readiness to form survival-based associations
A learned ability to recognize familiar settings
A reflex developed through repeated training
The natural tendency of animals to form associations with few pairings is called:
Observational learning
Biological preparedness
Spontaneous recovery
Operant reinforcement
A monkey quickly learns to fear snakes but not flowers. This learning pattern demonstrates:
Higher-order learning
Biological preparedness
Stimulus generalization
Operant discrimination
Researchers found that rats easily associate taste with nausea but not with light or sound. This supports:
Classical extinction
Higher-order conditioning
Biological preparedness
Shaping through reinforcement
Which of the following is the best example of biological preparedness in a natural environment?
A bird quickly avoids bitter-tasting insects after a single bite
A child mimics facial expressions seen on television
A person generalizes fear across multiple situations
A dog gradually learns to fetch through treats
One-trial learning refers to:
Acquiring a behavior after multiple training sessions
Conditioning that occurs after a single powerful experience
Learning behavior through watching and modeling
Strengthening a response through delayed rewards
Conditioning that happens in a single, intense experience is known as:
Stimulus generalization
Spontaneous recovery
One-trial learning
Latent inhibition
A child touches a hot stove once and never touches it again. This behavior best illustrates:
Classical conditioning
Spontaneous recovery
One-trial learning
Stimulus discrimination
A researcher finds that rats exposed to a shock in a specific chamber avoid the chamber immediately. This learning pattern is an example of:
Successive approximation
Operant reinforcement
One-trial learning
Repeated exposure conditioning
Which of the following examples best shows one-trial learning in an emotional context?
A teen avoids dark alleys after a single traumatic event
A teacher gradually trains students to raise hands
A musician practices for weeks before improvement
A toddler mimics a word after hearing it ten times
Habituation refers to:
The process of linking a stimulus with a reflex
The decrease in response after repeated exposure
The strengthening of learned behaviors
The immediate return of a reflex
When a stimulus causes a weaker response after being repeated, it is called:
Extinction
Habituation
Discrimination
Counterconditioning
A person living near a train track no longer notices the sound of trains at night. This situation demonstrates:
Spontaneous recovery
Stimulus generalization
Habituation
Higher-order conditioning
In a study, babies stopped turning their heads toward a bell sound after it was repeated 20 times. This suggests:
Operant extinction
Latent learning
Habituation
Classical conditioning
Which of the following behaviors best illustrates habituation in an everyday setting?
A person becomes less startled by a loud ringtone after hearing it all day
A student studies harder after receiving feedback
A dog learns to sit through repeated reinforcement
A child mimics a sibling’s gestures once they see approval
What is the learning method that uses rewards and punishment to shape behavior?
Operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
Observational learning
Latent learning
A method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior is called:
Operant conditioning
Spontaneous recovery
Higher-order learning
Generalization
A teacher uses praise and detentions to change student behavior. Which learning method is being used?
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Cognitive restructuring
Stimulus generalization
Which of the following scenarios shows a moderate form of operant conditioning?
A child imitates behavior they watched on TV
A student receives extra credit for submitting early work
A person tenses when hearing a dentist’s drill
A rat freezes after hearing a bell previously paired with a shock
A parent rewards chores with allowance but takes away privileges after misbehavior. This approach reflects:
Extinction of learned responses
Use of spontaneous reinforcement
Operant conditioning
Generalization of stimulus control
Which term refers to anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior repeating?
Habituation
Reinforcement
Punishment
Suppression
An event or stimulus that strengthens the behavior it follows is called:
Reinforcement
Punishment
Extinction
Habituation
A researcher gives rats food every time they press a lever, causing them to press it more. This is an example of:
Extinction
Reinforcement
Punishment
Discrimination
Which situation reflects the most applicable form of reinforcement?
A coach praises athletes who show up early, leading others to arrive early too
A teacher withholds participation points for incorrect answers
A student studies less after failing a test
A child avoids vegetables after one bad experience
A psychologist finds that students are more likely to complete optional assignments when praised. This supports which concept?
Punishment
Reinforcement
Cognitive dissonance
Stimulus generalization
Which term describes an event that decreases the likelihood of a behavior?
Stimulus generalization
Reinforcement
Punishment
Shaping
An event or stimulus that decreases the behavior it follows is called:
Reinforcement
Operant learning
Punishment
Discrimination
A child stops talking during class after repeatedly being scolded by the teacher. This behavioral change reflects:
Modeling
Reinforcement
Punishment
Extinction
A student gets detention for skipping class and stops skipping. What behavioral concept is demonstrated?
Reinforcement
Generalization
Punishment
Spontaneous recovery
Which of the following shows a strong use of punishment in everyday behavior?
A cat avoids scratching furniture after being sprayed with water
A student continues raising their hand for candy rewards
A teen practices driving more after receiving praise
A person repeats actions after observing others
Which of the following is a secondary reinforcer?
Food given to a hungry dog
A “good job” said after giving a treat
Sleep after a long day of work
Water given after physical exertion
A stimulus that reinforces behavior after association with a primary reinforcer is known as:
Primary reinforcer
Stimulus generalization
Secondary reinforcer
Extinction
A dog receives a treat along with verbal praise after sitting. Eventually, the praise alone motivates sitting. What concept is at work?
Counterconditioning
Secondary reinforcer
Negative punishment
Biological preparedness
A teacher initially gives candy with praise, but over time only uses verbal compliments to encourage participation. The praise now acts as a:
Secondary reinforcer
Primary reinforcer
Positive punishment
Conditioned response
Which of the following best applies the use of a secondary reinforcer in a classroom?
Giving a sticker along with candy, then just stickers
Withholding water to increase attention
Presenting food without a cue to avoid learning
Rewarding every behavior with a primary reinforcer
What is reinforcement discrimination?
Giving reinforcement for every behavior
Reinforcing a behavior only in specific conditions
Preventing the generalization of punishment
Applying reinforcement after behavior extinction
Reinforcing behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others is called:
Generalization
Extinction
Reinforcement discrimination
One-trial conditioning
A dog is only given a treat for sitting when a red light is on but not a green one. What learning principle is this?
Stimulus generalization
Reinforcement discrimination
Higher-order conditioning
Latent learning
In a study, pigeons peck a key when a specific tone plays, but not with any other tone. This behavior shows:
Reinforcement discrimination
Stimulus generalization
Negative punishment
Operant extinction
Which scenario best applies reinforcement discrimination in real life?
A student gets extra credit only in math class but not in other subjects
A child generalizes praise across all adult feedback
A coach punishes players regardless of performance
A student mimics behavior from all classmates equally
When a behavior reinforced in one setting appears in similar settings, this is called:
Reinforcement generalization
Stimulus discrimination
Classical reinforcement
Operant generalization
A behavior that has been reinforced in one situation and appears in similar situations shows:
Spontaneous recovery
Reinforcement generalization
Stimulus extinction
Conditioned aversion
A student praised for asking questions in science class also begins asking questions in English class. This is an example of:
Reinforcement generalization
Response extinction
Operant discrimination
Classical conditioning
A dog learns to sit for treats in the kitchen and soon sits in other rooms expecting treats. This best illustrates:
Stimulus extinction
Reinforcement generalization
Instinctive drift
Higher-order conditioning
Which situation reflects reinforcement generalization in a work environment?
An employee compliments a manager after getting a raise and begins complimenting other supervisors too
A worker forgets a task that was not rewarded
A person waits to receive approval before acting again
A team follows directions only during evaluations
The process of reinforcing successive steps toward a goal behavior is called:
Reinforcement
Operant modeling
Shaping
Generalization
Reinforcing small steps that lead to a final behavior refers to:
Instinctive drift
Spontaneous recovery
Shaping
Response fading
A trainer rewards a dog first for sitting, then for lying down, then for rolling over. This demonstrates:
Shaping
Law of Effect
Generalization
Classical extinction
A teacher praises a child for first writing their name, then forming letters, and eventually writing full sentences. This technique is known as:
Classical modeling
Shaping
Latent learning
Response conditioning
Which situation demonstrates shaping in a school setting?
A student receives praise for each part of a multi-step science project until it's completed
A student stops misbehaving after repeated punishments
A student guesses the correct answer without studying
A student generalizes test-taking strategies across subjects
When a trained animal returns to natural behaviors, it is showing:
Shaping
Generalization
Instinctive drift
Extinction
The tendency of animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors is called:
Biological preparedness
Operant generalization
Instinctive drift
Reinforcement fading
A pig trained to place tokens in a piggy bank starts tossing and rooting them. This return to natural behavior shows:
Instinctive drift
Higher-order conditioning
Shaping
Law of Effect
Researchers train raccoons to deposit coins but find they begin rubbing them together instead. This is most likely due to:
Response generalization
Stimulus fading
Instinctive drift
Shaping failure
Which scenario best illustrates instinctive drift during a training process?
A dog stops responding to commands and begins chasing squirrels during walks
A student forgets a reinforced behavior after a vacation
A child shows fear toward a new but similar object
A rat improves lever-pressing over repeated trials
Behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated according to the:
Law of Effect
Law of Reinforcement
Rule of Reward
Principle of Conditioning
Thorndike's rule that behaviors with positive outcomes are more likely to recur is called the:
Law of Effect
Law of Drift
Rule of Shaping
Principle of Fading
A cat in Thorndike's puzzle box presses a lever more quickly over time because it leads to food. This supports:
Law of Extinction
Law of Effect
Operant delay
Response fading
Students who receive positive feedback for answering correctly tend to participate more. This supports which principle?
Generalization
Law of Effect
Spontaneous recovery
Response extinction
Which example reflects the Law of Effect in everyday learning?
A teen volunteers more after getting public praise for helping at school
A student avoids raising their hand after being ignored once
A baby stops crying when no one responds
A child generalizes fear from dogs to all animals
A behavior based on the false belief that it causes an outcome is called:
Law of Effect
Shaping
Superstitious behavior
Discriminative response
An irrational behavior linked to a false outcome expectation is known as:
Shaping
Superstitious behavior
Instinctive drift
Reinforcement generalization
An athlete wears lucky socks during games after performing well once while wearing them. This is an example of:
Superstitious behavior
Operant discrimination
Stimulus generalization
Classical extinction
A student knocks on wood before tests, believing it helps them pass, even without evidence. This reflects:
Reinforcement discrimination
Spontaneous recovery
Superstitious behavior
Law of Effect
Which scenario best demonstrates superstitious behavior forming in real life?
A performer avoids walking under ladders before shows, thinking it brings bad luck
A worker checks in early after being rewarded for punctuality
A person avoids food that once made them sick
A teacher shapes essay-writing behavior step by step
What is the term for failing to escape a negative situation due to past repeated failures?
Learned helplessness
Negative punishment
Classical extinction
Reinforcement fading
The tendency to stop trying due to a history of failure is known as:
Operant reinforcement
Learned helplessness
Response shaping
Biological preparedness
A student stops trying to pass math tests after repeated poor scores despite studying. This behavior best reflects:
Operant extinction
Learned helplessness
Stimulus generalization
Classical conditioning
In a study, dogs that could not escape shock later made no effort to escape when escape was possible. What is this phenomenon?
Shaping through punishment
Learned helplessness
Reinforcement failure
Spontaneous recovery
Which situation best applies learned helplessness to a real-world context?
An employee stops applying for promotions after many rejections
A person continues to practice despite poor performance
A child mimics behavior shown by a parent
A dog salivates when it hears a bell
What is the term for adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior?
Positive punishment
Positive reinforcement
Classical reinforcement
Stimulus recovery
A desirable stimulus added after a behavior to increase the behavior is called:
Operant discrimination
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Spontaneous recovery
A child is given extra playtime for completing homework. This technique illustrates:
Negative reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
Punishment
Habituation
A study shows students given praise after answering questions are more likely to participate later. What principle does this support?
Stimulus extinction
Positive reinforcement
Negative punishment
Response generalization
Which situation demonstrates the correct use of positive reinforcement in the workplace?
A manager gives praise after tasks are completed well
An employee is reprimanded for being late
A worker avoids tasks after being ignored
A supervisor removes benefits after errors
Which term refers to removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior?
Negative punishment
Negative reinforcement
Classical extinction
Response inhibition
When a stimulus is removed following a behavior to make it more likely to occur again, it is called:
Negative reinforcement
Positive punishment
Operant recovery
Stimulus generalization
A teenager does the dishes to stop a parent’s nagging. This behavior is strengthened by:
Operant fading
Positive punishment
Negative reinforcement
Spontaneous extinction
In an experiment, rats learn to press a lever to stop a loud noise. Their increased lever pressing demonstrates:
Stimulus discrimination
Negative reinforcement
Positive punishment
Response extinction
Which example best illustrates negative reinforcement in a classroom?
A student finishes early and avoids extra homework
A teacher gives candy for good answers
A student is scolded for tardiness
A student mimics others without instruction
What are reinforcement schedules?
Rules that determine when and how often reinforcement occurs
Patterns that reduce reinforcement over time
Intervals that predict conditioned responses
Strategies to punish unwanted behavior
Rules that guide how and when reinforcement is delivered are called:
Stimulus intervals
Reinforcement schedules
Fixed response plans
Behavioral routines
A researcher compares fixed and variable reinforcement and finds different response rates. This is most likely due to differences in:
Conditioning style
Reinforcement schedules
Shaping technique
Stimulus generalization
A psychologist wants to reduce reinforcement slowly while keeping behavior strong. Adjusting what factor would best support this?
Extinction process
Reinforcement schedules
Instinctive drift
Secondary reinforcement
Which example shows the application of reinforcement schedules in everyday life?
A coffee shop offers a free drink every 10 purchases
A child generalizes praise across multiple settings
A teacher models each behavior step-by-step
A person stops trying after failing repeatedly
Reinforcing a desired behavior every time it occurs is called:
Fixed ratio conditioning
Continuous reinforcement
Generalized shaping
Variable interval learning
A reinforcement strategy where behavior is rewarded each time is known as:
Continuous reinforcement
Intermittent punishment
Partial interval reinforcement
Response extinction
A dog is given a treat every time it sits on command. This method best represents:
Classical punishment
Continuous reinforcement
Intermittent feedback
Generalization
In a study, learners who received feedback after every correct action mastered the task more quickly. Which reinforcement method was used?
Fixed-ratio training
Continuous reinforcement
Variable interval learning
Response shaping
Which situation reflects continuous reinforcement in a school setting?
A student is praised every time they answer a question
A student receives points only after every third response
A teacher uses shaping to train complex behavior
A child avoids tasks after losing privileges
What kind of pattern appears on a cumulative response graph under a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule?
Irregular burst graph
Random slope graph
Scalloped graph
Continuous line graph
The pattern that appears on a cumulative graph of a fixed-interval schedule, where responses increase near reinforcement time, is called:
Negative acceleration
Extinction curve
Scalloped graph
Reinforcement spike
A researcher notices that rats begin pressing a lever more frequently only as reward time nears. This pattern is best described by:
Shaping
Fixed ratio burst
Scalloped graph
Generalization slope
In a study, students complete assignments mostly right before the deadline, even when given several days. Their work behavior most closely mirrors which pattern?
Constant distribution
Scalloped graph
Continuous reinforcement
Variable interval increase
Which scenario reflects the scalloped pattern typically seen in reinforcement timing?
A child checks the mailbox more frequently near delivery time
A dog barks randomly during the day
A student responds to every question evenly
A pigeon stops responding after extinction
Which theory says people learn behavior by observing and imitating others?
Stimulus generalization
Operant shaping
Social learning theory
Insight mapping
The idea that behavior is acquired by watching others and imitating them is called:
Classical conditioning
Modeling theory
Social learning theory
Response reinforcement
Children who see a sibling rewarded for sharing are more likely to share. This supports which idea?
Stimulus fading
Social learning theory
Operant extinction
Generalization curve
A study finds that teens who view respectful peer interactions online tend to show more cooperation in school. Which theory explains this change?
Law of effect
Social learning theory
Response inhibition
Higher-order learning
Which real-life example best supports social learning theory?
A child imitates polite phrases heard from their parents
A rat presses a lever for food
A student recalls content only after being tested
A dog salivates at a tone
Learning that occurs by watching others respond to a stimulus is called:
Insight learning
Cognitive mapping
Vicarious conditioning
Classical generalization
When someone learns from seeing others experience consequences without experiencing them firsthand, it is called:
Observational repetition
Vicarious conditioning
Reflexive learning
Latent shaping
A child watches another get in trouble for touching a hot stove and avoids doing so themselves. What is this an example of?
Classical extinction
Vicarious conditioning
Operant drift
Delayed reinforcement
In an experiment, participants avoid shocking buttons after watching others get shocked. What type of learning does this illustrate?
Generalization
Vicarious conditioning
Response extinction
Spontaneous recovery
Which of these scenarios best shows vicarious conditioning in action?
A student avoids speaking up after watching a peer get mocked
A dog barks after hearing a similar tone
A cat learns to open a door by accident
A teen stops helping after not being praised
The process of learning through watching rather than personal experience is known as:
Conditioning
Modeling
Insight
Operant shaping
Children learning skills and emotions by observing others are demonstrating:
Reflex learning
Social scaffolding
Modeling
Negative conditioning
A preschooler learns to tie shoes by watching older siblings do it. This demonstrates:
Stimulus fading
Shaping
Modeling
Extinction burst
In a classroom, students begin using a respectful tone after repeatedly seeing peers praised for doing so. What learning type is this?
Spontaneous extinction
Operant reinforcement
Modeling
Latent learning
Which of the following is the best application of modeling in therapy?
A therapist shows appropriate coping behaviors for clients to imitate
A therapist uses shaping to guide speech patterns
A therapist uses reinforcement schedules only
A client is punished after failing a task
Sudden realization of a problem’s solution is known as:
Vicarious response
Operant shaping
Insight learning
Extinction learning
A sudden moment when the answer to a problem becomes clear is referred to as:
Negative reinforcement
Shaping
Insight learning
Cognitive rehearsal
A chimp stacks boxes to reach a banana after several failed attempts, without direct instruction. What learning is being shown?
Shaping
Insight learning
Stimulus generalization
Conditioned reflex
A study finds that participants suddenly find a solution to a maze without trial-and-error. What form of learning is this?
Reinforcement extinction
Latent mapping
Insight learning
Operant confusion
Which real-life example best shows insight learning?
A teen suddenly solves a riddle after thinking about it for hours
A student repeats math drills until improved
A dog learns a trick with rewards
A child imitates a sibling’s emotional response
Learning that occurs without reinforcement and is only used later is called:
Shaping
Latent learning
Operant extinction
Reflexive behavior
Learning that happens without being demonstrated until needed is called:
Vicarious learning
Spontaneous reinforcement
Latent learning
Observational rehearsal
Rats learn the layout of a maze but only use it when food is added to the goal box. What is this an example of?
Instinctive drift
Insight learning
Latent learning
Positive reinforcement
A study shows students who wander a campus remember routes well later when asked for directions, despite no prior practice. This supports:
Shaping
Latent learning
Stimulus extinction
Operant modeling
Which of the following illustrates latent learning in everyday life?
A child can suddenly recall a game rule after watching others play for weeks
A teen avoids chores after being punished
A dog stops barking when not rewarded
A student studies harder after failing a test
A mental representation of a layout is called:
Reflexive map
Sensory shaping
Cognitive map
Observational layout
A mental image of one's physical environment used for navigation is referred to as:
Cognitive map
Spontaneous path
Spatial memory
Mapping drift
A student who walks through a school once but later can recall the room locations without a map has used:
Latent learning
Operant conditioning
Cognitive map
Reflexive behavior
In a navigation study, participants who walked through a museum once were later able to describe its layout accurately. This demonstrates:
Instinctive drift
Cognitive maps
Insight learning
Spontaneous reinforcement
Which example shows cognitive mapping in action?
A delivery driver uses mental imagery to reroute around traffic
A student memorizes facts through drills
A rat randomly presses a lever for food
A child imitates a model’s facial expressions
What reinforcement schedule involves only rewarding behavior some of the time?
Continuous reinforcement
Spontaneous recovery
Partial reinforcement
Intermittent punishment
Reinforcing a response only part of the time, leading to slower learning but greater resistance to extinction, is called:
Fixed interval
Variable ratio
Partial reinforcement
Continuous reinforcement
A study shows that participants reinforced only occasionally continue responding longer after reinforcement stops than those reinforced continuously. This supports the effectiveness of:
Latent shaping
Partial reinforcement
Fixed interval reinforcement
Reflex learning
A parent gives praise to a child only sometimes when chores are completed. This behavior persists for weeks, even without reward. What schedule best explains this persistence?
Positive punishment
Partial reinforcement
Insight learning
Variable interval
Which of the following demonstrates partial reinforcement in everyday settings?
A student receives praise on random homework submissions and continues turning them in
A rat gets a pellet after every lever press
A teenager studies more after being grounded
A dog is punished for barking once
What reinforcement schedule provides reward after a set amount of time?
Fixed interval
Variable ratio
Partial reinforcement
Continuous shaping
Reinforcing a response only after a specified amount of time has passed is called:
Spontaneous reward
Variable interval
Fixed interval
Random ratio
A study finds that employees work harder only as payday approaches but are less productive right after. Their performance is most likely influenced by which reinforcement schedule?
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Continuous reinforcement
Positive punishment
A student checks the clock frequently near the end of a class because the teacher always dismisses exactly on time. This pattern of behavior follows what reinforcement schedule?
Shaping
Fixed interval
Variable interval
Insight learning
Which of the following is an example of fixed interval reinforcement in daily life?
A factory worker gets paid every two weeks regardless of output
A customer wins after a random number of game entries
A child is praised only sometimes when cleaning
A student studies only after seeing good grades
What schedule rewards behavior at unpredictable time intervals?
Fixed ratio
Spontaneous interval
Variable interval
Response shaping
Reinforcing a response at random times, regardless of the number of responses, refers to:
Fixed interval
Variable interval
Negative punishment
Positive reinforcement
A researcher finds that pigeons peck more steadily when food is given at unpredictable times rather than predictable ones. This supports the power of:
Cognitive mapping
Variable interval
Fixed ratio
Instinctive drift
A boss praises employees for good performance at random times during the week. Workers show steady productivity with little drop-off. Which schedule best explains this?
Variable interval
Fixed interval
Continuous reinforcement
Negative punishment
Which of the following best shows variable interval reinforcement in a real-world setting?
Checking email and occasionally receiving messages at unpredictable times
A slot machine paying after unknown responses
A teen who is grounded after breaking curfew
A student rewarded after every test
Which reinforcement schedule gives a reward after a fixed number of responses?
Continuous reinforcement
Fixed ratio
Variable interval
Response fading
Reinforcing a behavior only after a specific number of responses is what type of schedule?
Variable ratio
Spontaneous reward
Fixed ratio
Reflex reinforcement
In an experiment, rats consistently press a lever in blocks of 5 to receive food, showing a burst-pause pattern. This most closely reflects:
Latent learning
Fixed ratio
Insight learning
Variable interval
A factory worker is paid for every 10 products made. This pattern creates fast responding with short breaks after rewards. What schedule is used?
Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Negative reinforcement
Which of the following is a daily example of a fixed ratio schedule?
A coffee card rewards a free drink after every 10 purchases
A teacher calls on students randomly
A paycheck is delivered every Friday
A student is praised on unpredictable homework submissions
What reinforcement schedule gives a reward after an unpredictable number of responses?
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Partial response
Cognitive mapping
Reinforcing behavior after an unknown number of responses is called:
Fixed interval
Continuous shaping
Variable ratio
Random timing
Slot machines are known to reward players after unpredictable responses. This schedule is:
Variable ratio
Fixed ratio
Negative reinforcement
Spontaneous reinforcement
In a lab, rats continue pressing a lever at high rates even when the reinforcement comes at random times after a varying number of presses. This shows the influence of which schedule?
Continuous feedback
Fixed interval
Variable ratio
Extinction burst
Which example best represents variable ratio reinforcement in everyday life?
A person continues playing a game because they occasionally win prizes at unpredictable turns
A student is praised every 5th time they raise their hand
A child is rewarded every night for brushing teeth
A worker is paid every two weeks
Compared with apartment dwellers whose landlords pay their energy costs, those apartment dwellers who pay their own energy costs use less energy. This most clearly illustrates that consumer energy usage is influenced by:
operant conditioning
classical conditioning
observational learning
spontaneous recovery
Who would be most likely to emphasize the importance of observational learning?
Watson
Bandura
Skinner
Pavlov
The highest and most consistent rate of response is produced by a ________ schedule.
fixed-ratio
variable-ratio
fixed-interval
variable-interval
Spontaneous recovery refers to the:
expression of learning that had occurred earlier but had not been expressed because of lack of incentive
organism's tendency to respond spontaneously to stimuli similar to the CS as though they were the CS
return of a response after punishment has been terminated
reappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished conditioned response
After being bitten by a neighbor's dog, Miguel experienced fear at the sight of that dog but not at the sight of other dogs. This best illustrates the process of:
extinction
generalization
discrimination
spontaneous recovery
The weakening of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus is called:
acquisition
extinction
generalization
shaping
An animal can learn to respond to one stimulus and not to another. This ability is known as:
shaping.
discrimination.
generalization.
extinction.
The process of reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior is called:
generalization.
shaping.
spontaneous recovery.
observational learning.
The process by which a behavior is followed by a reinforcing stimulus, which increases the likelihood of the behavior's recurrence, is known as:
classical conditioning.
positive reinforcement.
operant extinction.
negative reinforcement.
A child learns to avoid a specific playground after being scolded there. This is an example of:
classical conditioning.
observational learning.
operant conditioning.
shaping.
In operant conditioning, reinforcement that strengthens a behavior by presenting a pleasurable stimulus is:
negative reinforcement.
positive reinforcement.
extinction.
spontaneous recovery.
In Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment, children who observed aggressive behavior were more likely to:
avoid aggressive behavior.
imitate aggressive behavior.
engage in prosocial behavior.
reinforce aggressive behavior.
A child is given a cookie every time they say 'please.' This is an example of:
fixed-ratio reinforcement.
variable-interval reinforcement.
continuous reinforcement.
spontaneous recovery.
An example of a secondary reinforcer is:
food.
water.
money.
shelter.
In operant conditioning, which of the following increases the likelihood of a behavior?
punishment.
reinforcement.
extinction.
spontaneous recovery.
