Unit 3 & 4 - Test

What is the main focus of behaviorism in psychology?

• 
  Studying mental processes

• 
  Examining observable behavior

• 
  Analyzing dreams and unconscious thoughts

• 
  Investigating genetic influences on personality

Answer explanation

The main focus of behaviorism is on examining observable behavior, rather than internal mental processes, dreams, or genetic influences. This approach emphasizes measurable actions as the basis for understanding psychological phenomena.

How long does it take to form a habit?

• 21 days

• 90 days

• 45 days

• 66 days

Answer explanation

Research suggests that it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit, making this the most accurate choice among the options provided. The 21 and 90-day figures are common misconceptions.

Which type of learning involves anticipating events based on associated stimuli?

• Operant conditioning

• 
  Observational learning

• Cognitive learning

• Classical conditioning

Answer explanation

Classical conditioning involves learning to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to an anticipated response. This is distinct from operant conditioning, observational learning, and cognitive learning.

Who pioneered classical conditioning?

• Ivan Pavlov

• B.F. Skinner

• Albert Bandura

• 
  John B. Watson

Answer explanation

Ivan Pavlov is credited with pioneering classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs, demonstrating how a neutral stimulus can elicit a conditioned response when paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

In Pavlov's experiment, what was the unconditioned stimulus?

• The bell

• The food

• The dog's salivation

• The laboratory environment

Answer explanation

In Pavlov's experiment, the unconditioned stimulus is the food, as it naturally triggers a response (salivation) without prior conditioning. The bell is a conditioned stimulus, while the dog's salivation is the conditioned response.

An individual’s fear of dogs that is lost as the individual is exposed to dogs in nonthreatening situations is referred to by behaviorists as a fear that has been

• satiated

• suppressed

• repressed

• extinguished (extinction)

• punished

Answer explanation

The fear of dogs is considered extinguished (extinction) when the individual is repeatedly exposed to dogs in nonthreatening situations, leading to a reduction in fear responses. This process is a key concept in behaviorism.

The term for a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning is (a)  

• Neutral stimulus
• 
  Conditioned stimulus
• Conditioned response
• Unconditioned stimulus

Answer explanation

A neutral stimulus is one that does not elicit any response before conditioning. It becomes significant only after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

Who conducted the 'Baby Albert' experiments?

• 
  Ivan Pavlov

• John B. Watson

• 
  B.F. Skinner

• Albert Bandura

Answer explanation

The 'Baby Albert' experiments were conducted by John B. Watson, who, along with his assistant Rosalie Rayner, demonstrated classical conditioning by conditioning a fear response in a baby to a white rat.

What is learning by watching others called?

• Vicarious learning

• Modeling

• Social cognition

• Observational learning

Answer explanation

The process of learning by watching others is known as observational learning. It involves acquiring new behaviors or information by observing the actions of others, making it distinct from vicarious learning and modeling.

Which psychologist is a transitional figure from behaviorism to cognitive psychology?

• John B. Watson

• Ivan Pavlov

• Albert Bandura

• B.F. Skinner

Answer explanation

Albert Bandura is considered a transitional figure from behaviorism to cognitive psychology due to his emphasis on observational learning and social learning theory, which integrated cognitive processes into the behavioral framework.