WGU C180 FULL REVIEW EXAM
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS.
Classical conditioning - ANS Learning to associate 2 stimuli together, which leads to an
organism anticipating future events. Example: Ivan Paplov studied salivation in dogs as a
precursor to digestion.
Unconditioned stimulus - ANS Stimulus that automatically triggers a response naturally.
Unlearned.
Unconditioned response - ANS Naturally occuring, unlearned response to an unconditioned
stimulus. Unlearned.
Conditioned stimulus - ANS Originally neutral stimulus that triggers a response after an
association with an unconditioned stimulus is formed. Learned.
Conditioned response - ANS Learned response to a stimulus that was originally neutral, but is
now conditioned.
Extinction - ANS Occurs when the unconditioned stimulus is no linger paired with the
conditioned stimulus. Make the behavior go away.
Generalization - ANS Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus will also elicit the
conditioned response. Avoid things that are similar to things that have hurt us.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Operant conditioning - ANS Controlling behavior through consequences. Behavior
strengthened by reinforcement and weakened by punishment.
Positive reinforcement - ANS Increases behavior by presenting a positive stimulus. Adding
Example: giving dog a treat to roll over
Negative reinforcement - ANS Increases behavior by stopping a negative stimulus.
Subtracting Example: you buy your child a toy in the store and he stops crying. This will increase
your toy buying behavior.
Primary reinforcer - ANS Does not have to be learned. Satisfies a biological need. Food.
Water. Similar to unconditioned stimuli.
Secondary reinforcer - ANS Has to be learned. These can get us the primary reinforcers. Good
grades. Money. Similar to conditioned stimuli.
Reinforcement schedules - ANS Continuous and partial
Continuous reinforcement - ANS A behavior is reinforced every time it occurs. For example if
you give your child a candy bar every time he cleans his room.
Partial reinforcement - ANS A behavior is reinforced only part of the time it occurs. Example:
you gave your child a candy bar every so often after he cleans his room. Note: this type of
schedule is much more difficult to extinguish
Partial reinforcement schedule types - ANS Ratio and Interval
Ratio - ANS Reinforcement that occurs after a number of responses occur - response
Interval - ANS Reinforcement occurs after an amount of time passes - time
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Fixed-ratio - ANS A knowable pattern. You get your reinforcer after a specific number of
responses. For example: after purchasing five sandwiches, you get one free at your favorite deli
Variable-ratio - ANS Random pattern. You get your reinforcer after an unpredictable number
of responses occur. For example: playing the lottery; playing a slot machine
Fixed-interval - ANS After a specified amount of time has passed, you receive a reinforcer for
your response. Example: checking to see if your mail has come, a pay period.
Variable-interval - ANS A random amount of time has passed and you never know when
you're going to receive a reinforcer for your response. Example: checking your Facebook status
for likes. Checking your email. Note: variable schedules are much harder to stop once they have
been put in place.
Positive punishment - ANS Adding something unpleasant to decrease or stop the behavior.
Example: corporal punishment; spraying water on the cat.
Negative punishment - ANS Stop the behavior by the subtraction of something positive. For
example: you come in late after curfew and your parents take away your car keys.
Observational learning - ANS Learning by observing others who are modeling behaviors.
Vicarious reinforcement - ANS Watching others receive reinforcement for their behavior.
Example: watching a movie in which a criminal is rewarded with money for committing a crime.
Vicarious punishment - ANS Watching someone receive a punishment for their behavior.
Example: watching a movie in which a criminal goes to jail for committing a crime.
Social psychology - ANS Social psychologists focus on how the situation contributes to our
behavior. It is a blend of sociology and psychology and focuses on how individuals change when
they're in the presence of others and certainly in the presence of groups.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS.
Classical conditioning - ANS Learning to associate 2 stimuli together, which leads to an
organism anticipating future events. Example: Ivan Paplov studied salivation in dogs as a
precursor to digestion.
Unconditioned stimulus - ANS Stimulus that automatically triggers a response naturally.
Unlearned.
Unconditioned response - ANS Naturally occuring, unlearned response to an unconditioned
stimulus. Unlearned.
Conditioned stimulus - ANS Originally neutral stimulus that triggers a response after an
association with an unconditioned stimulus is formed. Learned.
Conditioned response - ANS Learned response to a stimulus that was originally neutral, but is
now conditioned.
Extinction - ANS Occurs when the unconditioned stimulus is no linger paired with the
conditioned stimulus. Make the behavior go away.
Generalization - ANS Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus will also elicit the
conditioned response. Avoid things that are similar to things that have hurt us.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Operant conditioning - ANS Controlling behavior through consequences. Behavior
strengthened by reinforcement and weakened by punishment.
Positive reinforcement - ANS Increases behavior by presenting a positive stimulus. Adding
Example: giving dog a treat to roll over
Negative reinforcement - ANS Increases behavior by stopping a negative stimulus.
Subtracting Example: you buy your child a toy in the store and he stops crying. This will increase
your toy buying behavior.
Primary reinforcer - ANS Does not have to be learned. Satisfies a biological need. Food.
Water. Similar to unconditioned stimuli.
Secondary reinforcer - ANS Has to be learned. These can get us the primary reinforcers. Good
grades. Money. Similar to conditioned stimuli.
Reinforcement schedules - ANS Continuous and partial
Continuous reinforcement - ANS A behavior is reinforced every time it occurs. For example if
you give your child a candy bar every time he cleans his room.
Partial reinforcement - ANS A behavior is reinforced only part of the time it occurs. Example:
you gave your child a candy bar every so often after he cleans his room. Note: this type of
schedule is much more difficult to extinguish
Partial reinforcement schedule types - ANS Ratio and Interval
Ratio - ANS Reinforcement that occurs after a number of responses occur - response
Interval - ANS Reinforcement occurs after an amount of time passes - time
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Fixed-ratio - ANS A knowable pattern. You get your reinforcer after a specific number of
responses. For example: after purchasing five sandwiches, you get one free at your favorite deli
Variable-ratio - ANS Random pattern. You get your reinforcer after an unpredictable number
of responses occur. For example: playing the lottery; playing a slot machine
Fixed-interval - ANS After a specified amount of time has passed, you receive a reinforcer for
your response. Example: checking to see if your mail has come, a pay period.
Variable-interval - ANS A random amount of time has passed and you never know when
you're going to receive a reinforcer for your response. Example: checking your Facebook status
for likes. Checking your email. Note: variable schedules are much harder to stop once they have
been put in place.
Positive punishment - ANS Adding something unpleasant to decrease or stop the behavior.
Example: corporal punishment; spraying water on the cat.
Negative punishment - ANS Stop the behavior by the subtraction of something positive. For
example: you come in late after curfew and your parents take away your car keys.
Observational learning - ANS Learning by observing others who are modeling behaviors.
Vicarious reinforcement - ANS Watching others receive reinforcement for their behavior.
Example: watching a movie in which a criminal is rewarded with money for committing a crime.
Vicarious punishment - ANS Watching someone receive a punishment for their behavior.
Example: watching a movie in which a criminal goes to jail for committing a crime.
Social psychology - ANS Social psychologists focus on how the situation contributes to our
behavior. It is a blend of sociology and psychology and focuses on how individuals change when
they're in the presence of others and certainly in the presence of groups.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
