SKINNER

1 : Which term best describes B. F. Skinner?

a. determinist

b. psychotherapist

c. cognitive psychologist

d. sociologist

a. determinist

2 : While in college, Skinner aspired to become a

a. professional baseball player.

b. writer.

c. psychologist.

d. lawyer.

b. writer.

3 : Thorndike's law of effect states that responses to stimuli that are followed by a satisfier tend to be

a. ignored.

b. stamped in.

c. stamped out.

d. extinguished.

b. stamped in.

4 : John Watson argued that the goal of psychology is

a. to determine the drives that motivate behavior.

b. to study sensation, perception, and imagery.

c. to study behavior subjectively (through introspection).

d. to study behavior objectively.

d. to study behavior objectively.

5 : According to Skinner, internal mental states such as thinking, foresight, and reasoning

a. do not exist.

b. exist, but should not be used to explain behavior.

c. exist and should be used to explain behavior.

d. do not exist, but nevertheless can be used to explain human behavior.

e. are solely responsible for human behavior.

b. exist, but should not be used to explain behavior.

6 : Skinner believed that behavioral analysis should

a. interpret behavior but not explain it.

b. explain behavior but not interpret it.

c. both explain and interpret behavior.

d. neither explain nor interpret behavior.

a. interpret behavior but not explain it.

7 : Skinner believed the most crucial aspect of science is

a. measurement.

b. hypothesis testing.

c. explanations of natural phenomena.

d. an attitude that values empirical observation.

d. an attitude that values empirical observation.

8 : Shaping complex behavior through operant conditioning usually includes which procedure?

a. classical conditioning

b. punishment

c. cognitive mediation

d. successive approximation

d. successive approximation

9 : Any aversive condition that when removed from a situation increases the probability that a given behavior will occur is a

a. negative reinforcer.

b. positive reinforcer.

c. reward.

d. negative punishment.

e. positive punishment.

a. negative reinforcer.

10 : Skinner favored reward over punishment largely because

a. reward is more humane than punishment.

b. punishment is more expensive.

c. the effects of punishment are less predictable.

d. the effects of reward are less predictable.

c. the effects of punishment are less predictable.

11 : Allyson rubs her knee to reduce pain. This behavior is most likely an example of

a. classical conditioning.

b. social control of behavior.

c. punishment.

d. positive reinforcement.

e. negative reinforcement.

e. negative reinforcement.

12 : A bricklayer is paid a given amount of money for every brick laid. This procedure most closely approximates which schedule of reinforcement?

a. fixed-ratio

b. variable-ratio

c. fixed-interval

d. variable-interval

a. fixed-ratio

13 : Extinction of a response will occur earliest when learning occurs under which schedule of reinforcement?

a. continuous

b. variable-ratio

c. fixed-interval

d. variable-interval

a. continuous

14 : Which of these would be the best example of a

conditioned reinforcer?

a. sleep

b. relief from a headache

c. praise

d. oxygen

c. praise

15 : A slot machine pays off on which schedule?

a. continuous

b. fixed-ratio

c. fixed-interval

d. variable-interval

e. none of the above

e. none of the above

16 : According to Skinner, human personality is partially shaped by

a. natural selection.

b. unconscious motivation.

c. our expectation of future goals.

d. basic needs such as hunger, safety, and sex.

a. natural selection.

17 : A unified repertoire of responses is Skinner's definition of

a. operant conditioning.

b. classical conditioning.

c. human personality.

d. the perceived self.

c. human personality.

18 : Which of these concepts would Skinner see as an

explanatory fiction?

a. drive

b. ego

c. self-realization

d. all of the above

d. all of the above

19 : Skinner saw creative behavior as resulting from

a. mutations.

b. genetic intelligence.

c. sublimations.

d. uniquely human qualities of perseverance.

a. mutations.

20 : According to Skinner, the act of blocking out unpleasant thoughts is an example of

a. repression.

b. suppression.

c. negative reinforcement.

d. extinction.

c. negative reinforcement.

21 : Which of these would be an example of social control through describing contingencies?

a. deprivation

b. advertising

c. imprisonment

d. receiving a paycheck

b. advertising

22 : According to Skinner, unhealthy behavior

a. can be traced to congenital deficiencies.

b. does not exist.

c. is a means of coping with excessive social control.

d. is the result of permissive training during childhood.

c. is a means of coping with excessive social control.

23 : In his philosophy of science, Skinner

a. opposed hypothetical-deductive methods.

b. favored a Taoistic approach.

c. opposed scientific research.

d. favored the use of large groups of subjects.

e. advocated longitudinal studies.

a. opposed hypothetical-deductive methods.