PSYC 230 – Cognitive Psychology Exam 3 (150+ Questions) | Classical & Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement, Avoidance, ERP Therapy | University of Illinois (UIUC)

This in-depth study guide includes over 150 carefully crafted questions and fully explained answers for PSYC 230: Cognitive Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), focused on Exam 3 for the 2025/2026 academic year. The document offers a thorough exploration of learning theories, including both classical and operant conditioning, and applies these frameworks to real-world behavioral and therapeutic contexts. Key coverage includes: Classical Conditioning: extinction, counterconditioning, systematic desensitization, aversive therapy, exposure therapy, fear hierarchies, and avoidance behavior Operant Conditioning: reinforcement types (positive, negative, primary, secondary, generalized), shaping, chaining, and reinforcement schedules (fixed ratio, variable interval, etc.) Associative Learning Theories: Thorndike’s Law of Effect, Skinner’s behaviorism, Guthrie & Horton’s stop-action principle, Mowrer’s two-factor theory Conditioning Applications: establishing sleep routines, treating anxiety, ERP therapy, and behavioral modification Special Topics: learned helplessness (Seligman), ghosting as avoidance (LeFebvre et al.), response chains, maladaptive coping, contingency and timing in reinforcement It provides clear distinctions between procedures like discrete vs. free-operant trials, defines three-term contingencies, and integrates modern research and case-based applications that help illustrate psychological principles in everyday life. The layout is student-friendly and ideal for memorization, concept mastery, and test practice. Ideal for: Psychology majors at UIUC studying learning, behavior, and therapeutic intervention Students in cognitive-behavioral, neuroscience, or clinical psychology tracks Anyone preparing for advanced tests involving conditioning theory, behavior modification, and applied learning strategies Keywords: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, extinction, counterconditioning, reinforcement schedules, shaping, chaining, exposure therapy, ERP therapy, learned helplessness, behaviorism, reinforcement types, escape avoidance, ghosting study, aversive therapy, systematic desensitization, response chains, conditioning theory, PSYC 230, UIUC