AP Psychology : Individual Psychology and Behavior

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #221 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

A rat is taught by classical conditioning (treats) to respond to the sound of a bell by standing on its hind legs. After several days of no treats, the rat forgets to respond to the bell this way. Several months later, a researcher accidentally strikes the bell while in the rat's presence, and observes the rat stand on its hind legs and await a treat. According to behaviorists, what has the rat demonstrated?

Possible Answers:

Uncontrolled response

Random acquisition

Spontaneous recovery

Latent learning

Modeling

Correct answer:

Spontaneous recovery

Explanation:

The sudden reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior is called spontaneous recovery, and the conditions under which this recovery is possible depend strongly on the duration of the initial pairing, the length of extinction, and the overall intelligence of the organism (more intelligent organisms can "hold onto" extinguished behaviors for longer before forgetting them entirely).

Example Question #222 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

The goal of classical conditioning is to pair an unconditioned response with a neutral stimulus to create a conditioned response to that stimulus. Once this is accomplished, the organism's newly-crafted behavioral response is called __________.

Possible Answers:

operant behavior

acquisition

classical behavior

respondent behavior

classical response

Correct answer:

respondent behavior

Explanation:

Coined by Skinner, the term respondent behavior is more generally used to describe any end-result changed behavior in an organism after sufficient exposure to classical conditioning techniques.

Example Question #223 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

The pupils of the human eye dilate when exposed to bright light. This dilation is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Unconditioned response

Conditioned response

Conditioned stimulus

None of these

Unconditioned stimulus

Correct answer:

Unconditioned response

Explanation:

An unconditioned response is a response to a stimulus that takes place automatically as a result of biological or physical processes, without being under the conscious control of the organism. Pairing an unconditioned response with a neutral stimulus can lead to the formation of conditioned responses through association.

Example Question #224 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

In classical conditioning, the process by which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that, by degrees, the presence of the unconditioned stimulus to evoke a response is no longer required is called __________.

Possible Answers:

unconditioned response

conditioned response

acquisition

generalization

operant conditioning

Correct answer:

acquisition

Explanation:

Acquisition also refers to the point in operant conditioning where a reinforced response is strengthened via reinforcement, schedule adjustment, or punishment.

Example Question #225 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

From an early age, guard dogs can learn to tell the difference between the approaching footsteps of their handler (which provokes no response or a positive response) from other footsteps (which provoke a negative response). What ability would a behaviorist say this demonstrates?

Possible Answers:

Discrimination

Acquisition

Observational learning

Generalization

Prosocial behavior

Correct answer:

Discrimination

Explanation:

More generally, discrimination occurs when an organism learns to distinguish between those stimuli which provoke the conditioned response and stimuli which do not provoke an unconditioned response.

Example Question #226 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Changes in prenatal learning and memory have been studied through the following techniques: teaching pregnant women deep muscle relaxation exercises, pairing the exercises with music, and measuring fetal activity. After several weeks, fetal activity was reduced when the music was played. This scenario is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Operant conditioning, using music as the positive reinforcer, and relaxation as the instrumental response

 

Classical conditioning, using music as the conditioned stimulus, and relaxation as the unconditioned stimulus

Classical conditioning, using music as the US, and relaxation as the conditioned stimulus

Operant conditioning, using music as the negative reinforcer, and relaxation as the instrumental response

Correct answer:

Classical conditioning, using music as the conditioned stimulus, and relaxation as the unconditioned stimulus

Explanation:

This is an example of classical conditioning because learning (e.g. changes in fetal activity) occurred when music was played, as a result of several weeks of pairing relaxation exercises with music. This indicates that music was the conditioned stimulus (CS), and the exercises were the unconditioned stimulus (US). With operant learning, there are contingencies between specific behaviors and rewards (e.g. a rat receiving a pellet when pressing a lever). Because there is no contingency or reward here, it cannot be defined as operant learning.

Example Question #227 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Earning money as a reward is an example of which of the following kinds of reinforcers? 

Possible Answers:

Generalized Reinforcer

None of these

Monetary reinforcer 

Primary Reinforcer 

Correct answer:

Generalized Reinforcer

Explanation:

A “generalized reinforcer” is the correct answer, because a generalized reinforcer obtains reinforcing functionality through its association with other reinforcers (i.e. money can be used to purchase things that may act as reinforcers themselves).

Example Question #228 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

When Peter was a child, he was attacked by a dog. He had to go to the hospital for stitches and was very frightened. Now, as an adult, Peter becomes frightened when looking at pictures of dogs and feels as though he might be attacked, even when he is shown pictures of puppies. 

In this example, the fear in reaction to the pictures of dogs is:

Possible Answers:

Unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned response

Unconditioned response

Conditioned stimulus

Correct answer:

Conditioned response

Explanation:
The conditioned response is a learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning. The learned reaction is a fearful response to the pictures of dogs (conditioned stimulus), which occurred because of his attack (previous conditioning).

 

Example Question #229 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

The first part of the learning process in classical conditioning involves pairing together two stimuli. This phase is called:

Possible Answers:

Stimulus generalization

Spontaneous recovery

Acquisition

Extinction

Correct answer:

Acquisition

Explanation:

The first phase of classical conditioning is called acquisition. This is when the organism begins to learn that the pairing of the two stimuli is not random, and they can expect them to occur together. The organism is acquiring the new learning during this phase.

Example Question #230 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

When Peter was a child, he was attacked by a dog. He had to go to the hospital for stitches and was very frightened. Now, as an adult, Peter becomes frightened when looking at pictures of dogs and feels as though he might be attacked, even when he is shown pictures of innocent puppies. 

In terms of learning, it is likely that Peter's phobia developed through which of the following processes?

Possible Answers:

Operant conditioning

Spontaneous recovery

Modeling

Classical conditioning

Correct answer:

Classical conditioning

Explanation:

"Classical conditioning" is a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus. In this case, fear was originally evoked by a specific dog. Now, Peter feels fear even when looking at pictures of other dogs that are non-threatening. The other choices are incorrect. "Operant conditioning" is learning that occurs through reinforcement (e.g. rewards, punishment), "modeling" is learning that occurs through observation, and "spontaneous recovery" is when a previously extinguished response reappears.

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