Strayer University PSY 115 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Psychology of
Success Q&A | Psychology
1. Learning is best defined as:
A) Any change in behavior that results from maturation
B) A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from
experience
C) The process of acquiring knowledge through reading and study
D) Any behavioral change that occurs during childhood
Correct Answer: A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge
that results from experience
Rationale: Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior
or knowledge that results from experience. This definition distinguishes
learning from changes that are temporary, due to maturation, or caused by
other factors such as fatigue or drugs.
2. Classical conditioning was first demonstrated by:
A) B.F. Skinner
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) John B. Watson
D) Edward Thorndike
Correct Answer: Ivan Pavlov
Rationale: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, first demonstrated classical
conditioning through his experiments with dogs. He showed that a neutral
stimulus (a bell) could come to elicit a response (salivation) after being
paired with an unconditioned stimulus (food).
,3. In Pavlov's experiments, the food that caused salivation is referred to as
the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
C) Unconditioned response (UR)
D) Conditioned response (CR)
Correct Answer: Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Rationale: In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (US) is a
stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any
prior learning. In Pavlov's experiments, the food was the US because it
naturally caused salivation.
4. In Pavlov's experiments, the salivation caused by the food is referred to as
the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
C) Unconditioned response (UR)
D) Conditioned response (CR)
Correct Answer: Unconditioned response (UR)
Rationale: The unconditioned response (UR) is the natural, automatic
response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov's experiments,
salivation in response to food was the UR.
5. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned
stimulus when:
,A) It is presented after the unconditioned stimulus
B) It is paired repeatedly with the unconditioned stimulus
C) It is presented alone
D) The unconditioned response is extinguished
Correct Answer: It is paired repeatedly with the unconditioned stimulus
Rationale: A neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) through
repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (US). After conditioning, the
CS alone can elicit a conditioned response (CR). The key is the association
between the CS and US.
6. In classical conditioning, the conditioned response is:
A) The response that is naturally triggered by the unconditioned stimulus
B) A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
C) Any response that occurs after conditioning
D) The response that extinguishes the conditioned stimulus
Correct Answer: A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
Rationale: The conditioned response (CR) is a learned response to a
previously neutral stimulus that has become a conditioned stimulus through
association with an unconditioned stimulus. It is similar to the unconditioned
response but is triggered by the CS.
7. In Watson's "Little Albert" experiment, the loud noise that frightened
Albert was the:
A) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
B) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
, C) Conditioned response (CR)
D) Neutral stimulus
Correct Answer: Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Rationale: In Watson's experiment, the loud noise was the unconditioned
stimulus (US) because it naturally and automatically elicited a fear response
(UR) from Little Albert. The white rat was initially a neutral stimulus that
became a conditioned stimulus (CS) through pairing with the noise.
8. In Watson's "Little Albert" experiment, the white rat became the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Unconditioned response (UR)
C) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
D) Neutral stimulus
Correct Answer: Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Rationale: The white rat became the conditioned stimulus (CS) through
repeated pairing with the loud noise (US). After conditioning, the rat alone
(CS) elicited fear (CR) from Albert.
9. Acquisition in classical conditioning refers to the:
A) Weakening of the conditioned response when the CS is presented without
the US
B) Initial learning of the association between the CS and US
C) Return of a previously extinguished CR
D) The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS
Success Q&A | Psychology
1. Learning is best defined as:
A) Any change in behavior that results from maturation
B) A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from
experience
C) The process of acquiring knowledge through reading and study
D) Any behavioral change that occurs during childhood
Correct Answer: A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge
that results from experience
Rationale: Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior
or knowledge that results from experience. This definition distinguishes
learning from changes that are temporary, due to maturation, or caused by
other factors such as fatigue or drugs.
2. Classical conditioning was first demonstrated by:
A) B.F. Skinner
B) Ivan Pavlov
C) John B. Watson
D) Edward Thorndike
Correct Answer: Ivan Pavlov
Rationale: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, first demonstrated classical
conditioning through his experiments with dogs. He showed that a neutral
stimulus (a bell) could come to elicit a response (salivation) after being
paired with an unconditioned stimulus (food).
,3. In Pavlov's experiments, the food that caused salivation is referred to as
the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
C) Unconditioned response (UR)
D) Conditioned response (CR)
Correct Answer: Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Rationale: In classical conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (US) is a
stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any
prior learning. In Pavlov's experiments, the food was the US because it
naturally caused salivation.
4. In Pavlov's experiments, the salivation caused by the food is referred to as
the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
C) Unconditioned response (UR)
D) Conditioned response (CR)
Correct Answer: Unconditioned response (UR)
Rationale: The unconditioned response (UR) is the natural, automatic
response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus. In Pavlov's experiments,
salivation in response to food was the UR.
5. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned
stimulus when:
,A) It is presented after the unconditioned stimulus
B) It is paired repeatedly with the unconditioned stimulus
C) It is presented alone
D) The unconditioned response is extinguished
Correct Answer: It is paired repeatedly with the unconditioned stimulus
Rationale: A neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) through
repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (US). After conditioning, the
CS alone can elicit a conditioned response (CR). The key is the association
between the CS and US.
6. In classical conditioning, the conditioned response is:
A) The response that is naturally triggered by the unconditioned stimulus
B) A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
C) Any response that occurs after conditioning
D) The response that extinguishes the conditioned stimulus
Correct Answer: A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
Rationale: The conditioned response (CR) is a learned response to a
previously neutral stimulus that has become a conditioned stimulus through
association with an unconditioned stimulus. It is similar to the unconditioned
response but is triggered by the CS.
7. In Watson's "Little Albert" experiment, the loud noise that frightened
Albert was the:
A) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
B) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
, C) Conditioned response (CR)
D) Neutral stimulus
Correct Answer: Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Rationale: In Watson's experiment, the loud noise was the unconditioned
stimulus (US) because it naturally and automatically elicited a fear response
(UR) from Little Albert. The white rat was initially a neutral stimulus that
became a conditioned stimulus (CS) through pairing with the noise.
8. In Watson's "Little Albert" experiment, the white rat became the:
A) Unconditioned stimulus (US)
B) Unconditioned response (UR)
C) Conditioned stimulus (CS)
D) Neutral stimulus
Correct Answer: Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Rationale: The white rat became the conditioned stimulus (CS) through
repeated pairing with the loud noise (US). After conditioning, the rat alone
(CS) elicited fear (CR) from Albert.
9. Acquisition in classical conditioning refers to the:
A) Weakening of the conditioned response when the CS is presented without
the US
B) Initial learning of the association between the CS and US
C) Return of a previously extinguished CR
D) The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS
