Download - W.W. Norton

MCAT – Style Questions Chapter 6: Learning
NOTES: Chapter 6 includes information to support:
Content Category 7C Attitude and Behavior Change: Habituation and
Dishabituation; Associative Learning: classical conditioning, operant
conditioning, cognitive processes that affect associative learning, biological factors
that affect associative learning; Observational Learning: modeling, biological
processes that affect observational learning, applications of observational learning
to explain individual behavior.
Skills (From the MCAT2015):
1. Knowledge of scientific concepts and principles
2. Scientific reasoning & problem solving. Bringing together theories to draw
conclusions
3. Reasoning about the design and execution of research
4. Data-based and stat reasoning (identify patterns in data & draw
conclusions)
This chapter has seven questions
**end of notes
1.
Johan is a 21-year-old college junior who has been active in sports since
childhood. He has a scholarship to play football. The demands of juggling
practice, travel, and school often make Johan feel overwhelmed and sad.
For most of his academic career, Johan has been able to go to his coach
when he feels depressed and the coach has helped, by getting Johan
excuses to miss class or to submit work late, and occasionally even letting
Johan skip practice. According to learning theory, what is the likely
outcome of these consequences?
a. Johan’s feelings of depression will decrease, since he knows he can
rely on his coach for help.
b. Johan’s feelings of depression will increase, since he is receiving
negative reinforcement for feeling overwhelmed and sad.
c. Johan’s feelings of depression will decrease, due to observational
learning.
d. All of the above may be possible outcomes.
ANSWER: b. Johan’s feelings of depression will increase, since he is receiving
negative reinforcement for feeling overwhelmed and sad.
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 2: Scientific reasoning & problem solving. Bringing together theories to
draw conclusion
2.
Using what you know about classical conditioning, correctly match each
of the following points on the graph with the process it represents.
a. A=asymptote, B=acquisition, C=spontaneous recovery,
D=extinction, E=extinction
b. A=spontaneous recovery, B=extinction, C=acquisition,
D=extinction, E=extinction
c. A=acquisition, B=extinction, C=spontaneous recovery,
D=asymptote, E=extinction
d. A=acquisition, B=asymptote, C=extinction, D=spontaneous
recovery, E=extinction
ANSWER: d. A=acquisition, B=asymptote, C=extinction, D=spontaneous
recovery, E=extinction
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 4: Data-based and stat reasoning (identify patterns in data & draw
conclusions)
3.
According to cognitive explanations of associative learning such as the
Rescorla-Wagner model, what determines the strength of an association?
a. Level of surprise, or how unexpected a stimulus pairing may be
b. The number of times the stimuli are presented together
c. The amount of time between stimulus presentations
d. Level of intensity of the stimuli
ANSWER: a. Level of surprise, or how unexpected a stimulus pairing may be
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 2: Scientific reasoning & problem solving. Bringing together theories to
draw conclusion
4. Imagine you are a physician and you have a patient who has developed a
strange superstition: she washes her hands hundreds of times a day, to the
point of damaging her skin and opening multiple wound sites. According
to learning theory, what could have caused this superstition to develop?
a. Accidental positive and negative reinforcement for washing her
hands
b. A biological disorder caused by a lack of dopamine
c. Excessive punishment for washing her hands
d. A lack of role models for observational learning regarding
appropriate hand-washing behavior
ANSWER: a. Accidental reinforcement for washing her hands
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 2: Scientific reasoning & problem solving. Bringing together theories to
draw conclusion
5.
Which of the following statements regarding the biology of learning is
true?
a. The frontal lobes are necessary for learning.
b. The neurotransmitter dopamine is important for learning.
c. Hormones play a significant role in learning.
d. The capacity to learn is genetically based.
ANSWER: b. The neurotransmitter dopamine is important for learning.
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 1: Knowledge of scientific concepts and principles
6.
What does research suggest regarding mirror neurons?
a. Mirror neurons cause observational learning effects.
b. Mirror neurons cause people to imitate behaviors.
c. Mirror neurons may provide a neural basis for empathy.
d. Once a mirror neuron is activated, we are forced to imitate what we
see.
ANSWER: c. Mirror neurons may provide a neural basis for empathy.
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 1: Knowledge of scientific concepts and principles
7.
A pediatrician has a 13-year-old patient with no history of violent or
aggressive behavior. However, in the last year, the boy has been suspended
from school three times for engaging in violent or threatening acts.
According to research on observational learning, which of the following are
likely contributing to the boy’s increase in violence and aggression?
a. Hormonal changes have caused a spike in dopamine production in
the amygdala.
b. The boy’s parents have started to allow him to play video games
rated “mature” including Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
c. The boy is rebelling against the behavior he observes in his nonaggressive and non-violent father.
d. Both A and C.
ANSWER: b. The boy’s parents have started to allow him to play video games
rated “mature” including Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
Foundational Concept: 7
Content Category: 7C
Skill 2: Scientific reasoning & problem solving. Bringing together theories to
draw conclusion