PSY320 Learning and Behavior Practice
Exam Study Guide 2026 | Verified
Questions & Answers with Rationales |
Pavlov, Skinner, Conditioning &
Behavioral Theory Prep
• This verified study guide contains 200 practice questions with answers and
EXPERT RATIONALE to help you master PSY320 Learning and Behavior concepts
efficiently.
• Use this material by attempting each question first before checking the
highlighted correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE below it — ideal for active
recall and exam simulation.
PSY320 LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR — PRACTICE EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026 200
Verified Questions | Pavlov · Skinner · Conditioning · Behavioral Theory
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
1. Who is credited with the discovery of classical conditioning through
experiments with dogs?
A. B.F. Skinner
B. John B. Watson
C. Edward Thorndike
D. Ivan Pavlov
E. Albert Bandura
Correct Answer: D. Ivan Pavlov
EXPERT RATIONALE: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, discovered classical
conditioning while studying digestion in dogs. He noticed dogs salivated to stimuli
associated with food, leading to his foundational research on conditioned reflexes.
,2. In Pavlov's experiment, the food placed in the dog's mouth was the:
A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Neutral stimulus
C. Unconditioned stimulus
D. Conditioned response
E. Unconditioned response
Correct Answer: C. Unconditioned stimulus
EXPERT RATIONALE: The unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is one that naturally
and automatically triggers a response without prior learning. Food naturally caused
salivation in Pavlov's dogs without any conditioning.
3. The salivation that occurred naturally when food was placed in the dog's
mouth is called the:
A. Conditioned response
B. Conditioned stimulus
C. Neutral response
D. Unconditioned response
E. Orienting response
Correct Answer: D. Unconditioned response
EXPERT RATIONALE: The unconditioned response (UCR) is the unlearned,
naturally occurring reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. Salivating to food
requires no prior learning and is therefore unconditioned.
4. After conditioning, the bell alone causes salivation. The bell is now called
the:
,A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Unconditioned stimulus
C. Neutral stimulus
D. Discriminative stimulus
E. Aversive stimulus
Correct Answer: A. Conditioned stimulus
EXPERT RATIONALE: Once a previously neutral stimulus (the bell) has been
repeatedly paired with the UCS and begins to elicit a response on its own, it
becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS).
5. Salivation in response to the bell alone (after conditioning) is called the:
A. Unconditioned response
B. Reflexive response
C. Conditioned response
D. Orienting response
E. Generalized response
Correct Answer: C. Conditioned response
EXPERT RATIONALE: The conditioned response (CR) is the learned reaction to
the conditioned stimulus. It is similar to but typically weaker than the
unconditioned response.
6. The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when
the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS is called:
A. Spontaneous recovery
B. Extinction
, C. Generalization
D. Discrimination
E. Habituation
Correct Answer: B. Extinction
EXPERT RATIONALE: Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is
presented repeatedly without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus,
causing the conditioned response to gradually diminish and disappear.
7. After extinction, a conditioned response reappears after a rest period. This
is called:
A. Renewal
B. Spontaneous recovery
C. Reconditioning
D. Disinhibition
E. Reacquisition
Correct Answer: B. Spontaneous recovery
EXPERT RATIONALE: Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously
extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest, demonstrating that
extinction suppresses rather than eliminates the learned association.
8. A dog conditioned to salivate to a 1000 Hz tone also salivates to a 900 Hz
tone. This is:
A. Discrimination
B. Stimulus generalization
C. Second-order conditioning
D. Spontaneous recovery
Exam Study Guide 2026 | Verified
Questions & Answers with Rationales |
Pavlov, Skinner, Conditioning &
Behavioral Theory Prep
• This verified study guide contains 200 practice questions with answers and
EXPERT RATIONALE to help you master PSY320 Learning and Behavior concepts
efficiently.
• Use this material by attempting each question first before checking the
highlighted correct answer and EXPERT RATIONALE below it — ideal for active
recall and exam simulation.
PSY320 LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR — PRACTICE EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026 200
Verified Questions | Pavlov · Skinner · Conditioning · Behavioral Theory
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
1. Who is credited with the discovery of classical conditioning through
experiments with dogs?
A. B.F. Skinner
B. John B. Watson
C. Edward Thorndike
D. Ivan Pavlov
E. Albert Bandura
Correct Answer: D. Ivan Pavlov
EXPERT RATIONALE: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, discovered classical
conditioning while studying digestion in dogs. He noticed dogs salivated to stimuli
associated with food, leading to his foundational research on conditioned reflexes.
,2. In Pavlov's experiment, the food placed in the dog's mouth was the:
A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Neutral stimulus
C. Unconditioned stimulus
D. Conditioned response
E. Unconditioned response
Correct Answer: C. Unconditioned stimulus
EXPERT RATIONALE: The unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is one that naturally
and automatically triggers a response without prior learning. Food naturally caused
salivation in Pavlov's dogs without any conditioning.
3. The salivation that occurred naturally when food was placed in the dog's
mouth is called the:
A. Conditioned response
B. Conditioned stimulus
C. Neutral response
D. Unconditioned response
E. Orienting response
Correct Answer: D. Unconditioned response
EXPERT RATIONALE: The unconditioned response (UCR) is the unlearned,
naturally occurring reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. Salivating to food
requires no prior learning and is therefore unconditioned.
4. After conditioning, the bell alone causes salivation. The bell is now called
the:
,A. Conditioned stimulus
B. Unconditioned stimulus
C. Neutral stimulus
D. Discriminative stimulus
E. Aversive stimulus
Correct Answer: A. Conditioned stimulus
EXPERT RATIONALE: Once a previously neutral stimulus (the bell) has been
repeatedly paired with the UCS and begins to elicit a response on its own, it
becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS).
5. Salivation in response to the bell alone (after conditioning) is called the:
A. Unconditioned response
B. Reflexive response
C. Conditioned response
D. Orienting response
E. Generalized response
Correct Answer: C. Conditioned response
EXPERT RATIONALE: The conditioned response (CR) is the learned reaction to
the conditioned stimulus. It is similar to but typically weaker than the
unconditioned response.
6. The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when
the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS is called:
A. Spontaneous recovery
B. Extinction
, C. Generalization
D. Discrimination
E. Habituation
Correct Answer: B. Extinction
EXPERT RATIONALE: Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is
presented repeatedly without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus,
causing the conditioned response to gradually diminish and disappear.
7. After extinction, a conditioned response reappears after a rest period. This
is called:
A. Renewal
B. Spontaneous recovery
C. Reconditioning
D. Disinhibition
E. Reacquisition
Correct Answer: B. Spontaneous recovery
EXPERT RATIONALE: Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously
extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest, demonstrating that
extinction suppresses rather than eliminates the learned association.
8. A dog conditioned to salivate to a 1000 Hz tone also salivates to a 900 Hz
tone. This is:
A. Discrimination
B. Stimulus generalization
C. Second-order conditioning
D. Spontaneous recovery
