Worksheet Questions

Study Sheet

A mild electrical current is administered to a rat's brain after each time the rat presses a bar. Following the electrical stimulation, the rat's bar pressing increases. Is the electric current a reinforcer or a punishment? Explain

Linda has a cold. She takes an antihistamine medication, after which her runny nose, aches, and pains go away. Linda is now more likely to take an antihistamine when she gets a cold in the future.

3. Which of the following is a correct distinction between classical and operant conditioning?

4. Which of the following pairs is correct?

5. A new car advertisement pairs a scantily dressed, very fit, very attractive model (the gender of your choice) with the new 2020 Lexus. When you see the new car out on the street, you feel excited and you desire one. Which of the following is the correct formulation under classical conditioning?

6. Which happens first in classical conditioning, stimulus generalization or discrimination, and why?

7. Which of the following would produce extinction in operant conditioning?

8. A heroin addict is having severe withdrawal symptoms. As soon as he shoots up, he feels better. Later he will find that it is even harder to delay using the drug. What type of consequence is involved in this example of "shooting up" behavior?

9. John Q. Public votes in every election, but his candidates never win. Eventually, John stops voting. What behavioral principle changed his behavior?

10.Under what reinforcement schedule does a typical slot machine operate?

11. What reinforcement schedule leads to the quickest acquisition of a new response?

12. When Michelle’s father takes her shopping, she always puts up a fuss asking for candy. Most of the time, her father refuses to give her candy. Occasionally, however, he gives in and Michelle leaves the store with candy. Michelle’s fussing is likely to _____________ because of _________.

a. continue; intermittent reinforcement

b. continue; continuous reinforcement

c. decrease; continuous reinforcement

d. decrease; intermittent reinforcement

Matching

A. Pavlov a. Cats

B. Watson b. Dogs

C. Skinner c. Coyotes

D. Thorndike d. Little Babies Named Albert

E. Garcia e. Pigeons

Review scenarios and identify the following

• Conditioning (classical or operant)

• Identify UCS / UCR /NS/CS/CR if it is classical

• If it is operant conditioning - Identify the behavior and reinforce (pos. or neg / primary or secondary) / punishment

1. Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the shower becomes very hot and causes the person to jump back. Over time, the person begins to jump back automatically after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes.

2. Your father gives you a credit card at the end of your first year in college because you did so well. As a result, your grades continue to get better in your second year.

3. Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.

4. You eat brussel sprouts for the first time and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for brussel sprouts and feel nauseated whenever you smell it.

5. An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination room at a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small room causes an increased heart rate.

6. A lion in a circus learns to stand up on a chair and jump through a hoop to receive a food treat.

7. A professor has a policy of exempting students from the final exam if they maintain perfect attendance during the quarter. His students’ attendance increases dramatically.

8. You check the coin return slot on a pay telephone and find a quarter. You find yourself checking other telephones over the next few days.

9. Your hands are cold so you put your gloves on. In the future, you are more likely to put gloves on when it’s cold.

10. John Watson conducted an experiment with a boy named Albert in which he paired a white rat with a loud, startling noise. Albert now becomes startled at the sight of the white rat.

11. While caring for a friends dog, you notice that it displays a fear-like posture as you roll up a newspaper. You try this several times more and become convinced that this dog is generally afraid of rolled up newspapers.

12.Joan, an animal trainer, has been phobic about monkeys since an earlier attack. However, because of the money, she has agreed to work with monkeys for a movie studio. At first, just going anywhere near cages makes Joan tense, sweaty, and apprehensive. Lately, though, things have changed. Working with such cuddly, affectionate, human-like creatures is causing Joan to wonder why she ever felt such extreme distress.

13.Bill couldn't ever remember being so sick and nauseated. He would never go to that restaurant again, and he would never eat chicken again. All he could think about was the good dinner his mother would prepare for his homecoming. As he entered the kitchen, he became flushed and felt nauseated when he saw the golden brown turkey sitting on the table.

14. Robert gets a ticket for driving under the influence that results in a $500 fine and suspension of his driving license.

• Is this classical or operant conditioning?

• What's the behavior involved? Will it increase or decrease?

• What kind of consequence is involved?

15. Chris is bitten by the neighbor's German Shepherd. Now whenever she sees a dog in the neighborhood, she becomes afraid and runs away. She still enjoys petting her own family's cocker spaniel.

• Is this classical or operant conditioning?

• What is the conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned and unconditioned response?

• Is this an example of stimulus generalization? Stimulus discrimination?

16. Jacob's date was wearing a very alluring cologne on their recent date. The date itself was quite passionate. The following day when Jacob gets into his car he smells the lingering scent of his date's cologne and becomes transfixed with joy.

• Is this classical or operant conditioning?

• What is the unconditioned stimulus? Conditioned stimulus? Unconditioned and conditioned response?

• Can Jacob forget about his date and just go purchase a bottle of the cologne? Will his reaction subside?

17. Martin has a panic attack during a plane ride. Now the mere thought of an airplane makes him very nervous. Twenty years pass and Martin is still afraid of airplanes even though he never took another flight.

• Is this classical or operant conditioning?

• What are the US, CS, UR, and CR?

• Why hasn't this response extinguished?

18. Shelly is in the grocery store with her dad. As they near the checkout lane, Shelly starts whining for a candy bar but her dad says no. Shelly begins to cry and cries louder when her dad continues to refuse. At the checkout lane, in front of the cashier, Shelly throws herself onto the floor and begins screaming. Her dad responds by grabbing a candy bar and giving it to her. She quickly quiets down and eats her candy bar. This exchange gets repeated on subsequent trips to the grocery store.

• Classical or operant?

• What is Shelly's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows her behavior?

• What is dad's behavior in this example? What kind of consequence follows his behavior?

• How should dad handle this situation differently?

19. Your bright cat has learned that your presence in the kitchen is associated with food. Your cat has also learned that he can encourage your presence in the kitchen on Saturday mornings by standing on your chest and meowing (when you are obviously trying to sleep). You decide to get up and feed the cat to shut it up, but the problem only gets worse on subsequent weekends.

• Classical or operant?

• You know the drill. If it's operant, what kind of consequence is involved? If it's classical, what are the assorted stimuli and responses?

• Could it be both operant and classical?

20. You throw a wild party at which you consume too much alcohol (vodka and orange juice). You become very sick and spend a few hours vomiting. The next morning while cleaning up the mess, you get a whiff of the vodka and orange juice that were still sitting out in the kitchen. You immediately become nauseated and run to the bathroom to vomit some more (pretty picture, isn't it?).

• Classical or operant?

• What are the assorted stimuli and responses involved?