Preview Extract
Chapter 14
Other Behavioral Psychologies
1. Which of the following topics provided the foundation for behavioral psychologies?
a. sensation and perception
b. learning
c. imageless thought
d. experience
Answer: b. learning
Rationale:
Behavioral psychology, as a scientific approach, primarily focuses on observable behavior
and the processes of learning that underlie it. Learning, therefore, serves as the foundation for
understanding behavior and its modification.
2. Operationism refers to
a. the importance of including evaluative concepts in science.
b. the programmatic attempt to tie scientific terms to the measurements employed in an
experiment.
c. the insistence that all experimentation be derived from hypotheses which have been
rigorously derived from theories.
d. the attempt to conduct pure empirical research unhampered by theories.
Answer: b. the programmatic attempt to tie scientific terms to the measurements employed in
an experiment.
Rationale:
Operationism, as a methodological approach, emphasizes the need to define scientific
concepts in terms of observable and measurable operations or procedures. It aims to establish
clear and objective criteria for defining scientific constructs.
3. _____ is the belief that a concept is without meaning unless it is explicitly verifiable.
Proponents of this view hoped for a unified science devoid of ambiguous and meaningless
metaphysical concepts.
a. Operationism
b. Logical Positivism
c. Hullian behaviorism.
d. Anthroponomism
Answer: b. Logical Positivism
Rationale:
Logical Positivism advocates for the verification principle, which asserts that meaningful
statements must be empirically verifiable or falsifiable. This philosophical position seeks to
establish a scientific foundation for knowledge by emphasizing empirical evidence and
rejecting metaphysical speculation.
4. _________ employed the term hormic in his system of psychology to refer to the idea that
goal seeking is a central feature in mental activity and behavior.
a. William McDougall
b. Clark L. Hull
c. Edwin Ray Guthrie
d. B. F. Skinner
Answer: a. William McDougall
Rationale:
William McDougall, a prominent psychologist, introduced the concept of "hormic
psychology," which emphasizes the role of purpose or goal-seeking behavior in shaping
human actions and mental processes.
5. _________ preceded Watson in declaring that psychology should be a positive science
concerned with conduct. However, because he championed so many unpopular causes
(Lamarckianism, Extra Sensory Perception, teleology), his views were never widely
accepted.
a. Clark L. Hull
b. Albert Paul Weiss
c. William McDougall
d. Edwin B. Holt
Answer: c. William McDougall
Rationale:
William McDougall advocated for psychology as a positive science focused on behavior and
conduct, similar to Watson's later views. However, McDougall's support for controversial
ideas such as Lamarckianism and teleology hindered widespread acceptance of his work.
6. Which of the following would be most friendly to the study of molar behavior with a
strong emphasis on the purposive qualities of behavior?
a. Albert Paul Weiss
b. B. F. Skinner
c. Ivan Sechenov
d. Edwin B. Holt
Answer: d. Edwin B. Holt
Rationale:
Edwin B. Holt emphasized molar behavior, which focuses on holistic behavior patterns rather
than individual responses, and highlighted the purposive qualities of behavior, aligning with
the emphasis on purposefulness in his approach to psychology.
7. __________ preferred the term anthroponomy to Psychology, but is best remembered for
his early work on the delayed reaction test as a way to compare the problem solving abilities
of various species.
a. Walter Samuel Hunter
b. Clark L. Hull
c. Edward Chase Tolman
d. Edwin Ray Guthrie
Answer: a. Walter Samuel Hunter
Rationale:
Walter Samuel Hunter, a psychologist, advocated for the term "anthroponomy" to describe
the scientific study of human behavior. He is best known for his research on the delayed
reaction test, which compared problem-solving abilities across different species.
8. _____ investigated delayed reactions in children and animals and was one of the first to
study the human-machine problem
a. Walter Samuel Hunter
b. Clark L. Hull
c. Edward Chase Tolman
d. Edwin Ray Guthrie
Answer: a. Walter Samuel Hunter
Rationale:
Walter Samuel Hunter conducted research on delayed reactions in both children and animals,
contributing to the understanding of cognitive processes and problem-solving abilities.
Additionally, he explored the human-machine problem, examining interactions between
humans and technology.
9. Karl Lashley's data suggested that the brain functions in terms of
a. point for point connections.
b. a field theory approach.
c. in a highly mechanical fashion.
d. the operation of clear-cut learning centers.
Answer: b. a field theory approach.
Rationale:
Karl Lashley proposed a field theory approach to brain function, suggesting that cognitive
processes involve distributed neural networks rather than localized brain areas. His research
on brain lesions supported this perspective.
10. The term Mass Action, in the work of Karl Spencer Lashley, refers to
a. the idea that one part of the cortex can substitute for another part
b. a nerve cell fires according to an all or nothing law
c. the rate, efficiency, and accuracy of learning depends on the amount of cortex available
d. nerve cells never fire in isolation, but always in groups
Answer: c. the rate, efficiency, and accuracy of learning depends on the amount of cortex
available
Rationale:
Karl Spencer Lashley's concept of Mass Action suggests that the overall capacity and
effectiveness of learning depend on the total amount of cortical tissue available, rather than
specific localized brain regions.
11. One part of the cortex can sometimes take over the function of another part that has been
injured. Thus, some functions that have been lost can be restored through appropriate
relearning. This is known as
a. substitution theory.
b. isomorphism.
c. equipotentiality.
d. mass action.
Answer: c. equipotentiality.
Rationale:
Equipotentiality refers to the idea that different parts of the cortex have equal potential to take
over the functions of other damaged parts, allowing for the restoration of lost functions
through relearning. This concept emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of the brain's
neural networks.
12. ____________ attempted to advance a theory of behavior set forth very explicitly in
terms of quasi-mathematical postulates and collieries that lent themselves very explicitly to
experimental work.
a. Clark L. Hull
b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
c. Edward Chase Tolman
d. B. F. Skinner
Answer: a. Clark L. Hull
Rationale:
Clark L. Hull developed a comprehensive theory of behavior known as Hullian behaviorism,
which he expressed in precise mathematical terms. His approach aimed to establish
behaviorism as a rigorous scientific discipline grounded in experimental research.
13. Which of the following definitions of reinforcement would be most acceptable to Clark L.
Hull?
a. A reinforcement is any stimulus that increases the probability of a response
b. A reinforcement is a confirmed expectancy
c. A reinforcement is any stimulus that reduces a drive stimulus
d. A reinforcement is a stimulus that prevents unlearning
Answer: c. A reinforcement is any stimulus that reduces a drive stimulus
Rationale:
Clark L. Hull defined reinforcement as any stimulus that reduces a biological drive or need,
leading to an increase in the probability of a response. This definition aligns with Hull's drive
reduction theory, which posits that reinforcement strengthens behaviors by satisfying
physiological needs.
14. According to Hull, reactive inhibition is akin to
a. reinforcement.
b. fatigue.
c. conditioning.
d. excessive emotion.
Answer: b. fatigue.
Rationale:
Hull likened reactive inhibition to fatigue, suggesting that both processes involve a decrease
in the likelihood of a response. Reactive inhibition occurs when the intensity of a response
diminishes due to the repeated presentation of a stimulus without reinforcement, similar to
the decline in performance associated with fatigue.
15. Hull accounted for the permanent extinction of a response with his concept of
a. conditioned inhibition.
b. reactive inhibition.
c. central inhibition.
d. contiguity.
Answer: a. conditioned inhibition.
Rationale:
Hull proposed that the permanent extinction of a response occurs through conditioned
inhibition, which involves the learning of cues signaling the absence of reinforcement. This
inhibitory learning suppresses the previously reinforced response, leading to its extinction
over time.
16. Hull's position on concepts such as insight, purpose, and intention was that
a. such terms are secondary principles deducible from more elementary processes.
b. such terms are the appropriate topic of study for a behavioristic psychology.
c. such terms are meaningless and refer to nothing.
d. such terms will never be the domain of psychology.
Answer: a. such terms are secondary principles deducible from more elementary processes.
Rationale:
Hull viewed concepts like insight, purpose, and intention as secondary principles that could
be derived from more fundamental behavioral processes, such as reinforcement and
conditioning. He believed that behavioristic psychology should focus on explaining complex
behaviors in terms of these underlying processes.
17. There is only one law of learning and that is that law of contiguity. Who would embrace
this position?
a. Clark Hull
b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
c. Edward C. Tolman
d. Kenneth Spence
Answer: b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
Rationale:
Edwin Ray Guthrie proposed the Law of Contiguity as the primary principle of learning,
emphasizing the importance of the temporal association between stimuli and responses in the
formation of learned associations. Guthrie's approach prioritized simplicity and parsimony in
explaining learning phenomena.
18. Which of the following emphasized the idea that learning occurs in a single trial?
a. Clark Hull
b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
c. Edward C. Tolman
d. B. F. Skinner
Answer: b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
Rationale:
Edwin Ray Guthrie emphasized the concept of learning in a single trial, suggesting that
organisms could form lasting associations between stimuli and responses after just one
experience. This perspective contrasted with the gradualistic view of learning proposed by
other psychologists like Clark Hull.
19. ______ postulated that learned responses to stimuli do not become weaker due to the
passage of time, but rather as the result of learning new responses to old stimuli.
a. Clark Hull
b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
c. Edward C. Tolman
d. B. F. Skinner
Answer: b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
Rationale:
Edwin Ray Guthrie proposed that the weakening of learned responses over time is not due to
the mere passage of time but rather to the learning of new responses to old stimuli. This
perspective challenges the idea of spontaneous decay and highlights the role of ongoing
learning processes in shaping behavior.
20. Edwin Ray Guthrie's attitude toward the application of learning theory
a. was pessimistic.
b. did not exist; all of his research was basic.
c. was mildly appreciative.
d. was very positive.
Answer: d. was very positive.
Rationale:
Edwin Ray Guthrie held a positive attitude toward the application of learning theory,
believing that the principles of learning could be effectively applied to various practical
contexts, such as education and therapy. He saw potential in using his theory to address realworld problems and improve human behavior.
21. Tolman differed from Hull, Skinner, and Guthrie because his system reflected his belief
that human and animal behavior is
a. only learned in small increments.
b. purposive.
c. on an evolutionary continuum.
d. only reflexive.
Answer: b. purposive.
Rationale:
Tolman's theory emphasized the purposive nature of behavior, suggesting that organisms
engage in goal-directed actions to achieve desired outcomes. Unlike other behaviorists who
focused on stimulus-response associations, Tolman argued that behavior is guided by
cognitive processes and internal representations of the environment.
22. The expression intervening variable refers to
a. extraneous factors that interfere with learning.
b. the problem of “action at a distance.”
c. psychological processes that direct behavior and that mediate between stimuli and
responses.
d. cognition's that are irrelevant to the task at hand.
Answer: c. psychological processes that direct behavior and that mediate between stimuli and
responses.
Rationale:
Intervening variables are psychological processes that are not directly observable but are
believed to influence behavior by mediating between stimuli and responses. Tolman
introduced this concept to explain how cognitive factors, such as expectations and beliefs,
intervene between environmental stimuli and behavioral responses.
23. Tolman's experiments on _________________ called attention to the important
distinction between performance and learning.
a. experimental extinction
b. latent learning
c. stimulus generalization
d. cognitive maps
Answer: b. latent learning
Rationale:
Tolman's experiments on latent learning demonstrated that organisms can acquire knowledge
and form cognitive maps of their environment without immediate reinforcement. This
highlighted the distinction between performance (observable behavior) and learning (internal
acquisition of knowledge), challenging behaviorist views that emphasized the role of
reinforcement in shaping behavior.
24. “Reinforcement is little more than a ‘confirmed expectancy’ and, in any case, has little to
do with learning as such.” Who might have said this?
a. Clark Hull
b. B. F. Skinner
c. Edwin Ray Guthrie
d. Edward Chase Tolman
Answer: d. Edward Chase Tolman
Rationale:
This statement reflects Tolman's perspective on reinforcement, emphasizing the cognitive
aspect of reinforcement as a confirmed expectancy rather than a direct cause of learning.
Tolman argued that reinforcement serves to confirm existing expectancies rather than being
the primary mechanism of learning.
25. Evidence for cognitive interpretations of extinction has been provided by experiments on
a. latent learning.
b. latent extinction.
c. punishment.
d. sensory preconditioning.
Answer: b. latent extinction.
Rationale:
Latent extinction refers to the phenomenon where the suppression of a learned response
occurs without immediate reinforcement. This phenomenon provides evidence for cognitive
interpretations of extinction, suggesting that learned behaviors may become suppressed due
to changes in expectations or beliefs rather than the absence of reinforcement.
26. _____ argued that the ability to navigate in a complex spatial environment results from
the learning of a cognitive map
a. Clark Hull
b. B. F. Skinner
c. Edwin Ray Guthrie
d. Edward Chase Tolman
Answer: d. Edward Chase Tolman
Rationale:
Tolman proposed the concept of cognitive maps to explain how organisms navigate and learn
about their environment. According to Tolman, the ability to navigate in complex spatial
environments results from the internal representation of spatial relationships, known as
cognitive maps.
27. Which of the following, according to the text, is the most important bridge between
classical behaviorism and contemporary psychology?
a. Edward Chase Tolman
b. Clark L. Hull
c. Edwin Ray Guthrie
d. Albert Samuel Weiss
Answer: a. Edward Chase Tolman
Rationale:
Edward Chase Tolman's emphasis on cognitive processes and intervening variables served as
a bridge between classical behaviorism and contemporary psychology. His ideas laid the
foundation for cognitive psychology and influenced the development of cognitive theories of
behavior.
28. Which of the following behaviorists would be most clearly within the critical inductivistic
empirical tradition of Francis Bacon?
a. Clark L. Hull
b. B. F. Skinner
c. Edward Chase Tolman
d. Kenneth Spence
Answer: b. B. F. Skinner
Rationale:
B. F. Skinner's approach to behaviorism aligns with the critical inductivistic empirical
tradition of Francis Bacon, emphasizing systematic observation, experimentation, and the
accumulation of empirical evidence. Skinner's focus on observable behavior and
experimental analysis reflects a commitment to empirical inquiry and scientific rigor.
29. ____________ was not only a determinist; he argued that the theory of free will is
counterproductive to behavioral science and to society at large.
a. B. F. Skinner
b. Edwin Ray Guthrie
c. Edward Chase Tolman
d. William McDougall
Answer: a. B. F. Skinner
Rationale:
B. F. Skinner rejected the notion of free will and argued that determinism is fundamental to
behavioral science. He believed that the concept of free will hindered scientific progress and
promoted a deterministic view of behavior based on environmental contingencies and
reinforcement principles.
30. Skinner's views on cognitive psychology are best summarized by which of the following?
a. Cognitive psychology is a natural outgrowth of behaviorism.
b. Cognitive psychology is the legitimate offspring of operant approaches to learning.
c. Cognitive psychology is an obstacle that stands in the way of scientific psychology.
d. There is really nothing new in cognitive psychology -- it is behaviorism couched in a new
language.
Answer: c. Cognitive psychology is an obstacle that stands in the way of scientific
psychology.
Rationale:
Skinner viewed cognitive psychology as an obstacle to scientific psychology because he
believed that cognitive concepts such as mental states and processes were unobservable and
unverifiable. He argued that behaviorism provided a more rigorous and scientific approach to
understanding behavior without relying on unobservable cognitive constructs.
31. Skinner chose to primarily study the type of behavior he called _____ instead of _____,
the type of behavior studied by Watson and Pavlov.
a. environmental learning . . . situational learning
b. faculty learning . . . classical conditioning
c. operant behavior . . . respondent behavior
d. respondent behavior . . . operant behavior
Answer: c. operant behavior . . . respondent behavior
Rationale:
Skinner focused on studying operant behavior, which involves behaviors that operate on the
environment to produce consequences. This is different from respondent behavior, which
involves automatic responses to specific stimuli, studied by Watson and Pavlov.
32. According to the text, which of the following is not an example of B. F. Skinner’s applied
research?
a. A book on language acquisition called Verbal Behavior
b. A popular textbook on learning called Principles of Behavior
c. “Project Pigeon,” a military project that trained pigeons to deliver bombs during WWII
d. The “aircrib,” a large, operant-like chamber used to raise children
Answer: b. A popular textbook on learning called Principles of Behavior
Rationale:
While B. F. Skinner authored numerous books on behaviorism and learning, including
"Verbal Behavior," which focused on language acquisition, "Principles of Behavior" is not
specifically cited as an example of his applied research. The other options, such as "Project
Pigeon" and the "aircrib," are well-known examples of Skinner's applied research projects.
Test Bank for A History of Psychology: Ideas and Context
Brett D. King, Wayne Viney, William Douglas Woody
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