WGU C180 Practice Questions and Answers
Classical conditioning 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 Stimulus that automatically triggers a response naturally. Unlearned.
Unconditioned response Naturally occuring, unlearned response to an unconditioned stimulus. Unlearned.
Conditioned stimulus Originally neutral stimulus that triggers a response after an association with an
unconditioned stimulus is formed. Learned.
Conditioned response Learned response to a stimulus that was originally neutral, but is now
conditioned.
Extinction Occurs when the unconditioned stimulus is no linger paired with the conditioned
stimulus. Make the behavior go away.
Generalization Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus will also elicit the conditioned
response. Avoid things that are similar to things that have hurt us.
Operant conditioning Controlling behavior through consequences. Behavior strengthened by
reinforcement and weakened by punishment.
Positive reinforcement Increases behavior by presenting a positive stimulus. Adding Example: giving
dog a treat to roll over
Negative reinforcement 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 Does not have to be learned. Satisfies a biological need. Food. Water. Similar to
unconditioned stimuli.
Secondary reinforcer Has to be learned. These can get us the primary reinforcers. Good grades.
Money. Similar to conditioned stimuli.
Reinforcement schedules Continuous and partial
Continuous reinforcement 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 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 Ratio and Interval
, WGU C180 Practice Questions and Answers
Ratio Reinforcement that occurs after a number of responses occur - response
Interval Reinforcement occurs after an amount of time passes - time
Fixed-ratio 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 Random pattern. You get your reinforcer after an unpredictable number of
responses occur. For example: playing the lottery; playing a slot machine
Fixed-interval 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 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 Adding something unpleasant to decrease or stop the behavior. Example:
corporal punishment; spraying water on the cat.
Negative punishment 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 Learning by observing others who are modeling behaviors.
Vicarious reinforcement 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 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 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.
attribution theory We may attribute behavior to the persons personality (dispositional attribution)
or... or we can attribute it to the situation or surroundings (situational attribution).
Fundamental attribution error This occurs when we over estimate a persons disposition and under estimate the
situation. Example: what do we think of parents who yell at their children in
public?
Cognitive dissonance And uncomfortable feeling that occurs when your attitude and your behaviors are
in congruent. This could include rationalization. This could also include a revision
of your memories of an event. This is when you are judging yourself for an error
you have made. For example: losing your child at the zoo
Social influence This can include family, school, work, community, church, friends and social
media. It is looking at how our environment influences our believes and our
behavior.
Classical conditioning 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 Stimulus that automatically triggers a response naturally. Unlearned.
Unconditioned response Naturally occuring, unlearned response to an unconditioned stimulus. Unlearned.
Conditioned stimulus Originally neutral stimulus that triggers a response after an association with an
unconditioned stimulus is formed. Learned.
Conditioned response Learned response to a stimulus that was originally neutral, but is now
conditioned.
Extinction Occurs when the unconditioned stimulus is no linger paired with the conditioned
stimulus. Make the behavior go away.
Generalization Stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus will also elicit the conditioned
response. Avoid things that are similar to things that have hurt us.
Operant conditioning Controlling behavior through consequences. Behavior strengthened by
reinforcement and weakened by punishment.
Positive reinforcement Increases behavior by presenting a positive stimulus. Adding Example: giving
dog a treat to roll over
Negative reinforcement 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 Does not have to be learned. Satisfies a biological need. Food. Water. Similar to
unconditioned stimuli.
Secondary reinforcer Has to be learned. These can get us the primary reinforcers. Good grades.
Money. Similar to conditioned stimuli.
Reinforcement schedules Continuous and partial
Continuous reinforcement 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 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 Ratio and Interval
, WGU C180 Practice Questions and Answers
Ratio Reinforcement that occurs after a number of responses occur - response
Interval Reinforcement occurs after an amount of time passes - time
Fixed-ratio 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 Random pattern. You get your reinforcer after an unpredictable number of
responses occur. For example: playing the lottery; playing a slot machine
Fixed-interval 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 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 Adding something unpleasant to decrease or stop the behavior. Example:
corporal punishment; spraying water on the cat.
Negative punishment 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 Learning by observing others who are modeling behaviors.
Vicarious reinforcement 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 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 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.
attribution theory We may attribute behavior to the persons personality (dispositional attribution)
or... or we can attribute it to the situation or surroundings (situational attribution).
Fundamental attribution error This occurs when we over estimate a persons disposition and under estimate the
situation. Example: what do we think of parents who yell at their children in
public?
Cognitive dissonance And uncomfortable feeling that occurs when your attitude and your behaviors are
in congruent. This could include rationalization. This could also include a revision
of your memories of an event. This is when you are judging yourself for an error
you have made. For example: losing your child at the zoo
Social influence This can include family, school, work, community, church, friends and social
media. It is looking at how our environment influences our believes and our
behavior.
