PSYC 101: General Psychology – Portage
Learning – Exam 8 (2025/2026) – Verified
Questions and Answers
PSYC 101: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY – PORTAGE LEARNING – EXAM 8
SECTION 1: LEARNING – CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
1. Which process best illustrates the effect of development stages on the
interaction between instinct and learning?
• A) Conditioning
• B) Imprinting
• C) Facilitating
• D) Engulfing
Answer: B) Imprinting
Rationale: Imprinting is a rapid, innate learning process occurring early in
development where young animals form attachments to moving objects (often
the mother). It demonstrates the interaction between instinct (innate
predisposition) and learning (experience).
2. A reaction to a given stimulus that requires no previous experience is referred
to as:
, • A) A conditioned response
• B) An uncharacteristic response
• C) An unconditioned response
• D) A characteristic response
Answer: C) An unconditioned response
Rationale: An unconditioned response (UCR) is a natural, unlearned reaction to a
stimulus. For example, salivating in response to food is an unconditioned response
that requires no prior learning.
3. In Pavlov's original experiment, the _____ served as an unconditioned
stimulus because it naturally elicited a response from the dogs.
• A) Bell
• B) Food
• C) Salivation
• D) Light
Answer: B) Food
Rationale: In Pavlov's classic experiment, the food was the unconditioned
stimulus (UCS) because it naturally and automatically triggered salivation (the
UCR) without any prior learning.
4. What mechanism is responsible for the process of extinction?
• A) The previously formed association is forgotten.
• B) Spontaneous recovery replaces the association.
• C) New learning overrides old learning.
• D) An aversion is formed in response to the association.
Answer: C) New learning overrides old learning.
Rationale: Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented
repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). The original association
,isn't erased; instead, new learning (that the CS no longer predicts the UCS)
overrides or inhibits the old association.
5. The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned
stimulus is called:
• A) Aggregation
• B) Generalization
• C) Sensitization
• D) Habituation
Answer: B) Generalization
Rationale: Stimulus generalization is the tendency for a conditioned response to
be elicited by stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus. For
example, a dog salivates to a bell of a slightly different pitch.
6. The recognition that two different stimuli call for two different responses is
known as:
• A) Delectability
• B) Discrimination
• C) Desensitization
• D) Differentiation
Answer: B) Discrimination
Rationale: Discrimination is the learned ability to distinguish between a
conditioned stimulus and other, similar stimuli that do not signal an
unconditioned stimulus. It is the opposite of generalization.
7. Learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus also elicit
conditioned response is called:
• A) Sensitization
• B) Habituation
, • C) Generalization
• D) Higher-order conditioning
Answer: D) Higher-order conditioning
Rationale: Higher-order conditioning (also called second-order conditioning)
occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes a CS after being paired with an already
established CS, rather than with the original UCS. This creates chains of learned
associations.
8. Counterconditioning, in which people relax while being exposed to stimuli
that elicit fear, is referred to as:
• A) Systematic desensitization
• B) Habituation
• C) Latent inhibition
• D) Higher-order conditioning
Answer: A) Systematic desensitization
Rationale: Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy technique used to
treat phobias. It involves gradually exposing the client to the feared stimulus while
teaching relaxation techniques to counteract the anxiety response.
9. In Garcia and Koelling's taste-aversion study, why were the rats unable to
associate a bright noisy stimulus with feeling ill?
• A) The rats were so distracted or frightened by the bright noisy stimulus
that they did not notice they were ill.
• B) The rats relied more on taste and smell than on vision and hearing to
identify food.
• C) The rats enjoyed the bright noisy stimulus enough to tolerate their
illness.
• D) The rats lacked the cognitive ability to do so.
Learning – Exam 8 (2025/2026) – Verified
Questions and Answers
PSYC 101: GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY – PORTAGE LEARNING – EXAM 8
SECTION 1: LEARNING – CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
1. Which process best illustrates the effect of development stages on the
interaction between instinct and learning?
• A) Conditioning
• B) Imprinting
• C) Facilitating
• D) Engulfing
Answer: B) Imprinting
Rationale: Imprinting is a rapid, innate learning process occurring early in
development where young animals form attachments to moving objects (often
the mother). It demonstrates the interaction between instinct (innate
predisposition) and learning (experience).
2. A reaction to a given stimulus that requires no previous experience is referred
to as:
, • A) A conditioned response
• B) An uncharacteristic response
• C) An unconditioned response
• D) A characteristic response
Answer: C) An unconditioned response
Rationale: An unconditioned response (UCR) is a natural, unlearned reaction to a
stimulus. For example, salivating in response to food is an unconditioned response
that requires no prior learning.
3. In Pavlov's original experiment, the _____ served as an unconditioned
stimulus because it naturally elicited a response from the dogs.
• A) Bell
• B) Food
• C) Salivation
• D) Light
Answer: B) Food
Rationale: In Pavlov's classic experiment, the food was the unconditioned
stimulus (UCS) because it naturally and automatically triggered salivation (the
UCR) without any prior learning.
4. What mechanism is responsible for the process of extinction?
• A) The previously formed association is forgotten.
• B) Spontaneous recovery replaces the association.
• C) New learning overrides old learning.
• D) An aversion is formed in response to the association.
Answer: C) New learning overrides old learning.
Rationale: Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented
repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). The original association
,isn't erased; instead, new learning (that the CS no longer predicts the UCS)
overrides or inhibits the old association.
5. The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned
stimulus is called:
• A) Aggregation
• B) Generalization
• C) Sensitization
• D) Habituation
Answer: B) Generalization
Rationale: Stimulus generalization is the tendency for a conditioned response to
be elicited by stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus. For
example, a dog salivates to a bell of a slightly different pitch.
6. The recognition that two different stimuli call for two different responses is
known as:
• A) Delectability
• B) Discrimination
• C) Desensitization
• D) Differentiation
Answer: B) Discrimination
Rationale: Discrimination is the learned ability to distinguish between a
conditioned stimulus and other, similar stimuli that do not signal an
unconditioned stimulus. It is the opposite of generalization.
7. Learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus also elicit
conditioned response is called:
• A) Sensitization
• B) Habituation
, • C) Generalization
• D) Higher-order conditioning
Answer: D) Higher-order conditioning
Rationale: Higher-order conditioning (also called second-order conditioning)
occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes a CS after being paired with an already
established CS, rather than with the original UCS. This creates chains of learned
associations.
8. Counterconditioning, in which people relax while being exposed to stimuli
that elicit fear, is referred to as:
• A) Systematic desensitization
• B) Habituation
• C) Latent inhibition
• D) Higher-order conditioning
Answer: A) Systematic desensitization
Rationale: Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy technique used to
treat phobias. It involves gradually exposing the client to the feared stimulus while
teaching relaxation techniques to counteract the anxiety response.
9. In Garcia and Koelling's taste-aversion study, why were the rats unable to
associate a bright noisy stimulus with feeling ill?
• A) The rats were so distracted or frightened by the bright noisy stimulus
that they did not notice they were ill.
• B) The rats relied more on taste and smell than on vision and hearing to
identify food.
• C) The rats enjoyed the bright noisy stimulus enough to tolerate their
illness.
• D) The rats lacked the cognitive ability to do so.
