PSYC 171 Exam 3

Respondent conditioning is best defined as a process in which

a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone elicits a response. When the neutral stimulus elicits a response, it is now a conditioned stimulus (CS), and the response is a conditioned response (CR)

Delay conditioning is an arrangement in which

the CS is presented first and remains on until the US is presented, so the two overlap

Trace conditioning is an arrangement in which

the CS is presented and removed before the US is presented, leaving a gap between them

Simultaneous conditioning is an arrangement in which

the CS and the US are presented at the same time, beginning together

Backward conditioning is an arrangement in which

the US is presented first, followed by the CS

Systematic desensitization involves

maintaining relaxation while imagining scenes from a fear hierarchy, moving from the least to the most fear-producing scene

In vivo desensitization involves

maintaining relaxation while approaching the actual feared stimulus, one step of a fear hierarchy at a time

Flooding involves

exposure to the feared stimulus at full intensity until the anxiety subsides, which is based on respondent extinction

Operant conditioning is best defined as a process in which

a behavior is strengthened or weakened by the consequences that follow it

Which statement best describes the key difference between respondent and operant behavior?

Respondent behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli, while operant behavior is controlled by its consequences

Shaping is best defined as

differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a target behavior

How are reinforcement and extinction used together in shaping?

The current approximation is reinforced until it occurs consistently; then it is placed on extinction and the next, closer approximation is reinforced

A prompt is best defined as

a stimulus that is present when a behavior is not reinforced

Response prompts are best described as prompts that

involve the behavior of another person, such as verbal, gestural, modeling, or physical prompts

A within-stimulus prompt is a prompt in which

some dimension of the SD or S-delta (such as size, shape, color, intensity, or position) is changed so the correct choice stands out

An extra-stimulus prompt is a prompt in which

a stimulus is added to the situation to help the learner make the correct discrimination

Prompt fading is best defined as

gradually removing a prompt while the response continues to occur in the presence of the SD

Most-to-least prompting involves

starting with the most intrusive prompt, such as physical guidance, and moving to less intrusive prompts as the learner succeeds

In a stimulus–response chain

each response produces a stimulus change that serves as the SD for the next response, and the last response produces the reinforcer

A task analysis is

the identification of all the SDs and responses in a behavioral chain, listed in order

Forward chaining involves

teaching the first component to mastery, then the first and second together, and so on through the chain

Backward chaining involves

completing the earlier steps for the learner and teaching the last component first, then the next-to-last and last, and so on

Total task presentation involves

guiding the learner through all the steps of the chain on every trial and fading prompts as the learner improves

Behavioral skills training (BST) is a treatment package made up of

instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback

Generalization has occurred when

the target behavior occurs in relevant situations outside of training, in the presence of stimuli that were not part of training

A dog drools when food is placed in its bowl. Which of the following is an example of delay conditioning?

The can opener starts whirring and is still whirring when food is placed in the bowl

At a fireworks show, a rocket whistles as it rises and then goes silent. Two seconds after the whistle ends, a loud boom startles the crowd. Later, the whistle alone makes people flinch. Which arrangement does this describe?

Trace conditioning

On a roller coaster, a camera flash goes off at the exact instant the car drops, and the drop makes riders' hearts race. Which arrangement is this, and why?

Simultaneous conditioning, because the flash and the drop begin at the same moment

A child receives a shot at the doctor's office. Which of the following is an example of backward conditioning?

The nurse gives the shot, and then she shows the child a bright sticker.

After being stuck in an elevator, Omar's heart races whenever he sees an elevator, so he takes the stairs instead, and his anxiety goes down. Which part of this example is operant behavior?

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator

A client is afraid of public speaking. She has learned relaxation skills and built a fear hierarchy. Which of the following is systematic desensitization?

She relaxes in the therapist's office and imagines each hierarchy item, from talking with one friend to giving a talk to 100 people

A client is afraid of snakes. Which of the following is flooding?

The client holds a harmless snake at the start of the session and keeps holding it until her anxiety subsides

Which of the following is an example of respondent behavior?

Jada's mouth waters when she sees someone slice a lemon

A pigeon pecks a key when a green light is on and receives grain. When a red light is on, pecking produces nothing. Now the pigeon pecks only when the green light is on. Which best describes this?

Operant conditioning, because pecking is reinforced with grain only when the green light is on

A physical therapist wants a patient to walk 100 feet. Which of the following is an example of shaping?

She praises the patient for walking 10 feet. Once that is consistent, only 25 feet earns praise; then 50 feet, and then 100 feet.

A teacher is shaping louder speech in a quiet student and has been praising whispered answers. She stops praising whispers, and the student repeats the answer in a louder voice. What happened?

Withholding praise placed whispering on extinction, and the extinction burst included louder speech, a closer approximation to reinforce

Which of the following shows how shaping can accidentally develop a problem behavior?

At first the owner gives scraps for soft whining, later only for barking, and finally only for barking and jumping on the table.

A swim coach is teaching a child the front crawl arm stroke. The coach performs the stroke herself while the child watches, and the child imitates it. Which type of prompt is this?

Modeling prompt

A teacher is teaching a child to pick the letter b when shown the letters b and d. Which of the following is a within-stimulus prompt?

The b is printed in red while the d is printed in black

An adult is learning to set the table with the fork on the left side of the plate. Which of the following is an extra-stimulus prompt?

A placemat with an outline of a fork on the left side is used

A job coach is teaching an employee to fold towels. On each trial, she first gives a verbal instruction. If the employee does not respond, she gestures; if there is still no response, she models the fold; and if needed, she physically guides the employee. Which procedure is this?

Least-to-most prompting

A coach is teaching a child to dribble a basketball. Which of the following is an example of fading a physical prompt?

The coach guides the child's hand fully, then guides only at the wrist, then touches only the elbow, and then gives no help.

A group home resident is learning to take his medication at 8 a.m. Which of the following is a stimulus prompt rather than a response prompt?

A phone alarm labeled “Pills” goes off at 8 a.m.

A child is learning to brush his teeth. The task analysis is: (1) pick up the toothbrush, (2) put toothpaste on the brush, (3) brush teeth, (4) rinse mouth, (5) put the toothbrush away. Which of the following describes backward chaining?

The teacher completes steps 1–4, prompts the child to put the toothbrush away, and praises him. Once he does it without prompts, she completes steps 1–3 and teaches steps 4 and 5.

A trainer is teaching an adult to use a vending machine. Firstshe teaches him to insert money until he does it without help. Then she teaches inserting money and pressing the selection button. Then she adds taking the item out. Which procedure is this?

Forward chaining

A learner is being taught to make a peanut butter sandwich. Which of the following describes total task presentation?

The learner performs every step on every trial, and the trainer prompts only the steps the learner cannot yet do and fades the prompts.

A trainer is teaching a child to cross the street safely. Which of the following uses all of the components of behavioral skills training (BST)?

The trainer explains the steps, demonstrates them, has the child practice at a mock crosswalk, and praises correct steps and corrects errors

A manager is training a cashier to greet customers. She explains the greeting, has the cashier practice it with her, and then praises correct parts and corrects errors. Which BST component is missing?

Modeling

To teach a teen to order food, all training sessions take place at the actual restaurant counter where he will order. Which strategy for promoting generalization is this?

Train in the target situation

In anger management training, a student learns to say to herself, “Stay calm, walk away,” whenever she starts to feel angry. Which strategy for promoting generalization is this?

Incorporate self-generated mediators of generalization