PSYCH 111: Introduction to Psychology: Week 9: Chapter 6 Quizzes: Learning

Correct Answer:

B. A student watches a tutorial video and then successfully fixes a bike chain

Explanation:

Observational learning occurs when individuals acquire new behaviors by watching others (models) and then imitating those behaviors. Unlike direct reinforcement, it relies on social influence and modeling. For example, a student who watches a YouTube tutorial and then applies the steps to fix a bike chain has learned through observation. Research suggests that mirror neurons help the brain simulate and replicate the observed behavior, facilitating imitation and skill learning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A child receives candy every time they clean their room

This is operant conditioning with positive reinforcement, not observational learning. The child is reinforced directly rather than learning by watching others.

C. A worker increases productivity after receiving a paycheck every two weeks

This is a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule, not observational learning. It depends on time-based reinforcement, not modeling.

D. A gambler keeps playing slot machines because of unpredictable payouts

This is a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule, not observational learning. The persistence in gambling behavior is driven by unpredictably timed reinforcement, not imitation.

Correct Answer:

B. Existing behaviors that are reflexively elicited, not newly learned complex actions

Explanation:

B.F. Skinner argued that classical conditioning could only explain associations involving reflexive, automatic responses such as salivation or fear. It could not account for the acquisition of new, voluntary behaviors like playing an instrument or riding a bike. To explain those, Skinner developed operant conditioning, which emphasizes how behavior is shaped by reinforcement and punishment. This distinction expanded the scope of behavioral psychology to include more complex human actions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. The development of entirely new voluntary behaviors like riding a bike

This is what Skinner said classical conditioning cannot explain, hence why he introduced operant conditioning.

C. Learned behaviors shaped only by observation and imitation

This describes observational learning, not classical conditioning or Skinner’s critique of it.

D. The weakening of behavior through repeated exposure to non-reinforced stimuli

This refers to extinction in conditioning, not Skinner’s point about the limits of classical conditioning.

Correct Answer:

D. Spontaneous recovery

Explanation:

Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response (CR) after it had previously been extinguished. Following extinction, the conditioned stimulus (CS) may temporarily lose its ability to produce the conditioned response. However, after a period of rest with no further conditioning, the CR can suddenly re-emerge when the CS is presented again. This shows that extinction suppresses but does not fully erase the learned association.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Acquisition

Acquisition is the initial learning phase when the CS and UCS are paired to produce a CR, not the reappearance after extinction.

B. Extinction

Extinction is the process in which the CR decreases when the CS is no longer paired with the UCS, not its return.

C. Generalization

Generalization occurs when stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus also trigger the CR, not when a previously extinguished CR reappears.

Correct Answer: B. Learned behaviors are acquired through experience, while instincts and reflexes are innate and biologically determined

Explanation:

Learned behaviors develop through interaction with the environment, practice, reinforcement, or observation. They are not present at birth but acquired over time, such as playing a sport or learning a language. Instincts, like migration in birds, and reflexes, like the knee-jerk reaction, are automatic, innate, and do not require learning. This distinction highlights how experience shapes learned behaviors, while instincts and reflexes are built into the nervous system.Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Learned behaviors are automatic responses present at birth, while instincts develop only in adulthood

This reverses the definitions—learned behaviors are not present at birth, and instincts appear early in life.

C. Learned behaviors are simple, involuntary actions, while instincts and reflexes involve complex decision-making

Reflexes are simple and involuntary, not learned; instincts are automatic, not based on decision-making.

D. Learned behaviors are genetically programmed, while instincts and reflexes result from environmental conditioning

It is the opposite: instincts and reflexes are genetically programmed, while learned behaviors arise from experience.

Correct Answer:

B. An employee comes to work early after seeing a coworker punished for being late

Explanation:

Observational learning allows individuals to learn by watching the behavior of others and the consequences that follow. It may involve learning a new response, deciding whether to imitate based on the outcome, or developing a general rule to apply in other contexts. For example, seeing a coworker scolded for being late motivates another employee to adjust their own behavior. This demonstrates vicarious learning, a key element of observational learning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A student memorizes math formulas without watching anyone solve problems

This represents direct learning or rote memorization, not observational learning. No modeling is involved.

C. A gambler plays slot machines because wins occur after unpredictable responses

This illustrates a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule, not observational learning. It is driven by reinforcement, not imitation.

D. A child is given candy every evening at the same time regardless of behavior

This describes a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule, not observational learning, since reinforcement occurs independently of modeled behavior.

Correct Answer:

B. A student checks their email and sometimes finds a new message at unpredictable times

Explanation:

A variable-interval reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after varying, unpredictable periods of time. Because the timing cannot be anticipated, behaviors are performed steadily over time to maximize chances of reinforcement. For example, Manuel’s fast-food team keeps the restaurant consistently clean and efficient since they do not know when the quality control inspector will appear. Similarly, checking emails is reinforced at unpredictable times, producing steady, moderate response rates.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A factory worker gets paid for every 100 items produced

This is a fixed-ratio schedule because reinforcement is tied to a specific number of responses (100 items), not time intervals.

C. A dog receives a treat every time it sits on command

This is continuous reinforcement. The behavior is rewarded each time it occurs, rather than after unpredictable time intervals.

D. A salesperson earns a commission for each product sold

This represents a ratio schedule, specifically fixed or variable ratio depending on the structure, since reinforcement depends on responses (sales), not the passage of time.

Correct Answer:

D. Variable ratio

Explanation:

A variable-ratio reinforcement schedule provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, creating very high and steady response rates. Because the subject cannot predict when reinforcement will occur, they continue performing the behavior persistently, hoping the next response will be rewarded. This unpredictability makes behaviors under variable ratio schedules highly resistant to extinction, as seen in gambling, where individuals continue playing even after long periods without reinforcement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Fixed interval

This is the least productive schedule and the easiest to extinguish. Since reinforcement occurs at predictable time intervals, behavior drops quickly once reinforcement stops.

B. Variable interval

Although more resistant to extinction than fixed schedules, variable interval is less powerful than variable ratio. Reinforcement depends on time rather than number of responses, so behaviors are steady but not as persistent.

C. Fixed ratio

This produces high response rates, but extinction occurs faster than with variable ratio. Once reinforcement stops, subjects quickly notice the pattern and reduce or stop responding.

Correct Answer:

B. Negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, while punishment decreases a behavior

Explanation:

Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused, but they serve very different purposes. Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing something unpleasant (e.g., fastening a seatbelt stops the car’s beeping, so seatbelt use increases). Punishment, on the other hand, always decreases a behavior. Punishment can be positive (adding an unpleasant stimulus, like scolding) or negative (removing a pleasant stimulus, like taking away a toy). Thus, reinforcement—positive or negative—always increases behavior, while punishment—positive or negative—always decreases it.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Negative reinforcement decreases a behavior, while punishment increases a behavior

This is the exact opposite of the correct definitions.

C. Negative reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior, while punishment removes a stimulus to increase a behavior

Adding a pleasant stimulus describes positive reinforcement, not negative reinforcement, and punishment never increases behavior.

D. Negative reinforcement and punishment are the same because both reduce unwanted behavior

This is incorrect—negative reinforcement increases a behavior, while punishment decreases it.

Correct Answer:

B. Conditioned response (CR)

Explanation:

In classical conditioning, the conditioned response (CR) is the learned behavior triggered by the conditioned stimulus (CS) after repeated pairings with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). For example, if a bell (CS) is repeatedly paired with food (UCS), a dog eventually salivates at the sound of the bell alone. This salivation to the bell is the CR, demonstrating learned association.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Unconditioned response (UCR)

The UCR is a natural, unlearned reaction to the UCS, not the learned response to a CS.

C. Reflex action

A reflex is automatic and unlearned, while the CR is acquired through conditioning.

D. Operant behavior

Operant behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment, not stimulus–stimulus association.