PSYCH 365 - UNIT 2 QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Extinction will occur more gradually under which of the following conditions?
a. the client does not become aggressive
b. a behaviour incompatible with the target behaviour is reinforced
c. the behaviour was reinforced intermittently prior to extinction
d. the behaviour was reinforced continuously prior to extinction - Answers - c. the
behaviour was reinforced intermittently prior to extinction
When a reinforcer can be exchanged with a wide variety of back-up reinforcers it
becomes - Answers - Generalized reinforcer
Increasing the frequenc of a behaviour by presenting an event immediately after that
behaviour is called - Answers - Positive (presenting event after behaviour)
Reinforcement (increase frequency)
Which of the following is typically a conditioned reinforcer for most people?
a. blueberries
b. one thousand dollars
c. cool water on a hot day
d. a warm room on a freezing day - Answers - $1000
A punisher that acquires its ability to punish through association with other punishers is
called - Answers - conditioned punisher.
When using extinction it is important to
a. minimize the use of instructions.
b. ensure that the behaviour has been previously maintained by intermittent
reinforcement.
c. use spontaneous recovery.
d. minimize alternative reinforcers for the behaviour. - Answers - d. minimize alternative
reinforcers for the behaviour.
If a reinforcer is presented only when a behaviour has preceded it, we say that the
reinforcer is - Answers - contingent
A frequent cause of failure of extinction procedures is
a. that the level of spontaneous recovery was insufficient.
b. that an alternative desirable behaviour was not reinforced or otherwise encouraged.
, c. that continuous rather than intermittent reinforcement was used prior to using the
procedure.
d. telling the person that the behaviour will not be reinforced. - Answers - that an
alternative desirable behaviour was not reinforced or otherwise encouraged.
If a behaviour undergoes extinction only gradually over time, we say that the behaviour
is - Answers - Resistant to extinction
Which of the following typically acts as a primary reinforcer?
a. strawberries
b. a gold watch
c. a set of Lego blocks
d. a Macintosh computer - Answers - Strawberries (food)
David was having trouble at school with subtraction. For 15 minutes every day after
school, David's mom would work with him on subtraction exercises. David made lots of
mistakes, but when he got the correct answer, his mom would praise him, saying things
like, "Great job, David." David got the correct answer much more often as a result of this
procedure.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
The management personnel at a large garment factory were concerned about the low
rate of production of the garment workers. They decided to change some things in the
workplace. They installed softer lighting, allowed music to be played, and permitted
more coffee breaks per worker. The workers all received these benefits on the same
day, and the benefits were awarded whether or not the employees were productive on
any given day. Productivity increased as a result of these more pleasant conditions.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - No its not
Allison's boyfriend teased her a lot about her curly hair. Allison hated this and decided
that every time her boyfriend made remarks about her hair, she would respond with a
mean comment about his school grades. As a result, Allison's boyfriend teased her
more often about her hair than he did before.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
Professor Black was concerned about the poor attendance at her lectures in
introductory anthropology. She decided to include a bonus question on her weekly
quizzes that could only be answered correctly by students who had attended the
previous lectures. As a result of this procedure, lecture attendance increased
dramatically.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
ANSWERS
Extinction will occur more gradually under which of the following conditions?
a. the client does not become aggressive
b. a behaviour incompatible with the target behaviour is reinforced
c. the behaviour was reinforced intermittently prior to extinction
d. the behaviour was reinforced continuously prior to extinction - Answers - c. the
behaviour was reinforced intermittently prior to extinction
When a reinforcer can be exchanged with a wide variety of back-up reinforcers it
becomes - Answers - Generalized reinforcer
Increasing the frequenc of a behaviour by presenting an event immediately after that
behaviour is called - Answers - Positive (presenting event after behaviour)
Reinforcement (increase frequency)
Which of the following is typically a conditioned reinforcer for most people?
a. blueberries
b. one thousand dollars
c. cool water on a hot day
d. a warm room on a freezing day - Answers - $1000
A punisher that acquires its ability to punish through association with other punishers is
called - Answers - conditioned punisher.
When using extinction it is important to
a. minimize the use of instructions.
b. ensure that the behaviour has been previously maintained by intermittent
reinforcement.
c. use spontaneous recovery.
d. minimize alternative reinforcers for the behaviour. - Answers - d. minimize alternative
reinforcers for the behaviour.
If a reinforcer is presented only when a behaviour has preceded it, we say that the
reinforcer is - Answers - contingent
A frequent cause of failure of extinction procedures is
a. that the level of spontaneous recovery was insufficient.
b. that an alternative desirable behaviour was not reinforced or otherwise encouraged.
, c. that continuous rather than intermittent reinforcement was used prior to using the
procedure.
d. telling the person that the behaviour will not be reinforced. - Answers - that an
alternative desirable behaviour was not reinforced or otherwise encouraged.
If a behaviour undergoes extinction only gradually over time, we say that the behaviour
is - Answers - Resistant to extinction
Which of the following typically acts as a primary reinforcer?
a. strawberries
b. a gold watch
c. a set of Lego blocks
d. a Macintosh computer - Answers - Strawberries (food)
David was having trouble at school with subtraction. For 15 minutes every day after
school, David's mom would work with him on subtraction exercises. David made lots of
mistakes, but when he got the correct answer, his mom would praise him, saying things
like, "Great job, David." David got the correct answer much more often as a result of this
procedure.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
The management personnel at a large garment factory were concerned about the low
rate of production of the garment workers. They decided to change some things in the
workplace. They installed softer lighting, allowed music to be played, and permitted
more coffee breaks per worker. The workers all received these benefits on the same
day, and the benefits were awarded whether or not the employees were productive on
any given day. Productivity increased as a result of these more pleasant conditions.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - No its not
Allison's boyfriend teased her a lot about her curly hair. Allison hated this and decided
that every time her boyfriend made remarks about her hair, she would respond with a
mean comment about his school grades. As a result, Allison's boyfriend teased her
more often about her hair than he did before.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
Professor Black was concerned about the poor attendance at her lectures in
introductory anthropology. She decided to include a bonus question on her weekly
quizzes that could only be answered correctly by students who had attended the
previous lectures. As a result of this procedure, lecture attendance increased
dramatically.
Is this positive reinforcement? - Answers - Yes it is
