AP Psychology : Classical Conditioning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Classical Conditioning

What happens to the neutral stimulus in higher-order conditioning?

Possible Answers:

It becomes the old NS

It becomes the new US

It becomes the new UR

It becomes the new CS

It becomes the new CR

Correct answer:

It becomes the new CS

Explanation:

Higher-order conditioning, also known as second-order conditioning, in classical conditioning is when a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a conditioned stimulus. All that's required for this process is for the neutral stimulus to become associated with a prior conditioned stimulus. For instance, in terms of Pavlov's experiment, if a tone triggers salivation, then a flashing light that becomes associated with the tone will trigger salivation. However, second-order conditioning is weaker than first-order.

Example Question #22 : Classical Conditioning

What happens in classical conditioning when the CS occurs repeatedly without the US?

Possible Answers:

Respondent behavior 

Acquisition 

Higher-order conditioning 

Extinction 

Spontaneous recovery 

Correct answer:

Extinction 

Explanation:

In classical conditioning, when a conditioned stimulus is repeatedly administered without the unconditioned stimulus following, the conditioned response will diminish. For example, with regards to Pavlov's experiment, the tone would be played but the food would not arrive. Over time this causes a diminishing of the dogs salivating. This is known as extinction. 

Acquisition would be an incorrect choice as it is the initial step in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus is linked to an unconditioned stimulus and the respondent behavior. Respondent behavior is the automatic behavior triggered by some stimulus. An example of this would be salivation with the sight of food, where salivation is the response and the food is the stimulus. 

Higher-order conditioning, also known as second-order conditioning, would also be incorrect because it is the process of a neutral stimulus associating with a previously conditioned stimulus. For example, a strobing light associated with the previously conditioned stimulus (tone) would yield salivation. 

Spontaneous recovery would be an incorrect choice because it refers to the reappearance of a weakened conditioned response. This would occur in the case of a CR being suppressed rather than completely eliminated. 

Example Question #21 : Classical Conditioning

Which psychologist is famous for his experiments that involve dogs salivating in response to a bell?

Possible Answers:

B.F. Skinner

Ivan Pavlov

John Watson

Edward Thorndike

Sigmund Freud

Correct answer:

Ivan Pavlov

Explanation:

Ivan Pavlov is one of the earliest psychologists known for classical conditioning and is particularly famous for his experiments in which he got dogs to associate food with sounds, leading them to salivate when there was a bell even when there was not food present. 

John Watson was a classical conditioning psychologist who is most famous for his "Little Albert" experiment in which he trained a young boy to be afraid of a rat (or anything like looked like a white rat) because he made an unpleasant noise while presenting the rat. This research indicated that humans too could be classically conditioned.

Edward Thorndike came up with the law of effect, which states that positive consequences increase the likelihood that an action will be repeated and negative consequences decrease the likelihood that it will.

B.F. Skinner based his research off of Thorndike's law of effect and is considered to be the founder of operant conditioning (the type of learning in which the effects of an action determine whether it will be repeated in the future). He is most famous for Skinner's box-- a box in which he placed animals to conduct operant conditioning experiments.  

Sigmund Freud is not a psychologist associated with conditioning at all. Instead, he came up with psychodynamic theories that explained people's actions in terms of conflicts in their unconscious.

Example Question #24 : Classical Conditioning

Which psychologist is famous for his "Little Albert" experiment?

Possible Answers:

Ivan Pavlov

Edward Thorndike

John Watson

Freud

B.F. Skinner

Correct answer:

John Watson

Explanation:

John Watson was a classical conditioning psychologist who is most famous for his "Little Albert" experiment in which he trained a young boy to be afraid of a rat (or anything like looked like a white rat) because he made an unpleasant noise while presenting the rat. This research indicated that humans too could be classically conditioned.

Ivan Pavlov is one of the earliest psychologists known for classical conditioning and is particularly famous for his experiments in which he got dogs to associate food with sounds, leading them to salivate when there was a bell even when there was not food present. 

Edward Thorndike came up with the law of effect, which states that positive consequences increase the likelihood that an action will be repeated and negative consequences decrease the likelihood that it will.

B.F. Skinner based his research off of Thorndike's law of effect and is considered to be the founder of operant conditioning (the type of learning in which the effects of an action determine whether it will be repeated in the future). He is most famous for Skinner's box-- a box in which he placed animals to conduct operant conditioning experiments.  

Sigmund Freud is not a psychologist associated with conditioning at all. Instead, he came up with psychodynamic theories that explained people's actions in terms of conflicts in their unconscious. 

Example Question #21 : Classical Conditioning

If someone is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins and they are afraid when they see a cello. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Discrimination

Generalization

Extinction

Acquisition 

Spontaneous recovery

Correct answer:

Generalization

Explanation:

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response (fear) occurs even when the conditioned stimulus (cello) is slightly different from the original CS (violin). 

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli.

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented. 

Spontaneous recovery is the comeback of a conditioned response after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus is presented again.

Acquisition is the learning period of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus are being presented together.

Example Question #22 : Classical Conditioning

If someone is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins and they do not fear string basses. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Extinction

Generalization

Acquistion

Spontaneous recovery

Discrimination

Correct answer:

Discrimination

Explanation:

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli (violins and basses). 

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response occurs even when the conditioned stimulus is slightly different from the original CS. 

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented. 

Spontaneous recovery is the comeback of a conditioned response after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus is presented again.

Acquisition is the learning period of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus are being presented together.

Example Question #611 : Ap Psychology

Suzie is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins because every time they are presented, they are followed by a loud, unpleasant noise. Then, a violin is presented ten times without the noise and she stops showing a fearful respoinse. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Discrimination

Acquistion

Extinction

Spontaneous recovery

Generalization

Correct answer:

Extinction

Explanation:

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response (fear) when the unconditioned stimulus (noise) is no longer presented. 

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli. 

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response occurs even when the conditioned stimulus is slightly different from the original CS. 

Spontaneous recovery is the comeback of a conditioned response after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus is presented again.

Acquisition is the learning period of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus are being presented together.

Example Question #21 : Classical Conditioning

Suzie is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins because every time they are presented, they are followed by a loud, unpleasant noise. Then, a violin is presented ten times without the noise and she stops showing a fearful respoinse. If the violin is presented with the noise again and she begins to show fear again. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Acquisition

Spontaneous recovery

Extinction

Generalization

Discrimination

Correct answer:

Spontaneous recovery

Explanation:

Spontaneous recovery is the comeback of a conditioned response (fear) after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus (noise) is presented again.

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented. 

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli. 

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response occurs even when the conditioned stimulus is slightly different from the original CS. 

Acquisition is the learning period of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus are being presented together.

Example Question #29 : Classical Conditioning

Suzie is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins because every time they are presented, they are followed by a loud, unpleasant noise. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Extinction

Discrimination

Generalization

Spontaneous recovery

Acquisition

Correct answer:

Acquisition

Explanation:

Acquisition is the learning period of a conditioned response (fear) when the unconditioned stimulus (noise) and the conditioned stimulus (violin) are being presented together.

Spontaneous recovery is the comeback of a conditioned response after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus is presented again.

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented. 

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli. 

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response occurs even when the conditioned stimulus is slightly different from the original CS. 

 

Example Question #21 : Classical Conditioning

Suzie is classically conditioned to be afraid of violins because every time they are presented, they are followed by a loud, unpleasant noise. Violins are then presented with pictures of cats until Suzie is afraid of cats as well. Of what concept is this an example?

Possible Answers:

Discrimination

Spontaneous recovery

Generalization

Extinction

Second-order conditioning

Correct answer:

Second-order conditioning

Explanation:

Second-order conditioning is when the conditioned stimulus from a previous round of conditioning (violin) becomes the unconditioned stimulus for a new round.

Spontaneous recovery is the return or reoccurrence of a conditioned response after extinction when the unconditioned stimulus is presented again.

Extinction is the cessation of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented. 

Discrimination is the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli. 

Generalization occurs when the conditioned response occurs even when the conditioned stimulus is slightly different from the original CS.

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