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EXAM #1
Session #1 (updated 1/12/2013)
Terms and concepts:
1. What are the 3 causes of behavior, according to the philosophy of behaviorism?
2. What is the difference between radical and methodological behaviorism? Give an
example in which a private event is the dependent variable in a treatment program
or research study (you can just make up a program that addresses a private event
if you want).
3. James Lind and scurvy
4. Joseph Lister
5. Significance of diphtheria in history of medicine
6. George Washington’s problem
7. James Garfield’s problem
8. Thomsonians
9. Healthy user bias
10. Compliance effect
11. Prescriber effect
12. Placebo effect – from a behavioral view
Discussion Questions
1. What are the 3 levels of selection? (include what is selected and the mechanism).
Give examples of each.
2. Explain why people may implement treatments for autism that are not supported
by scientific research, or why people in the past tried to cure diseases with
treatments that had no basis in science.
3. Be able to discuss how incorrect assumptions about the cause of disease gave rise
to wildly inappropriate treatment procedures (include the system with the 4
humours).
4. Discuss the characteristics of science using the 6 elements – using some examples
to make it interesting
5. Difference between correlational/observational study and true experiment – give
example of each
6. Given a “treatment” for autism, be able to design an experiment that would show
the effects of said treatment on the behavior of interest.
Session #2 (updated 1/25/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Behavioral view of values
2. Teleology
3. Why scientists have left the lab
4. Spontaneous recovery - what is it
5. Spontaneous recover – why it occurs
6. Primary dv in science of behavior (see Skinner article)
7. Inductive reasoning (see previous classes)
8. Deductive reasoning (see previous classes)
9. VB (include refined definition)
10. The meaning of an utterance?
11. Behavioral explanations/definitions (or the “meaning”) of:
a. Personality trait
b. Attention
Discussion Questions
1. Be able to discuss a few alternative explanations of behavior that differ from
that afforded by the 3 levels of selection. Or in other words, what do the 3
levels of selection replace as explanations of behavior?
2. Give an example of the intermingling of contingencies of reinforcement and
contingencies of survival (e.g., imprinting of ducklings)
3. Explain the experiment that demonstrated what imprinting was all about.
What is the ultimate conclusion of that study? (i.e. what is actually inherited?)
4. What was the main point of Methods and theories?
a. Why people leave the lab
b. Where do they go?
5. Explain the experiment published by George Reynolds entitled “Attention in
the pigeon.”
6. Explain the resurgence phenomenon.
Session #3 (updated 1/26/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Behavioral explanations/definitions (or the “meaning”) of:
a. Awareness
b. Self awareness
c. Traits
d. Attention – when someone is “attending” to something
2. Give an example in which we construct SDs to affect future behavior.
3. Rules
4. Rule-governed behavior
5. Contingency
6. Contingency-shaped behavior
7. Problem
8. Solution
9. Problem solving repertoire
10. Explain the behavioral process involved in metaphor. Be able to give some
examples. (e.g., “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely
players; they have their exits and entrances.”)
11. Refined definition of VB
12. Magazine training
Discussion questions
1. Describe the typical tact training procedure.
2. Describe at least 3 ways that we come to tact private events. Be able to give some
examples.
3. Describe the Thorndike experiment that Skinner discussed. How did he suggest
that the behavior be conditioned?
4. Give an advantage and disadvantage of contingency-shaped behavior and rulegoverned behavior.
5. Explain the study by Robert Epstein and Skinner that showed pigeons can become
“self aware.” Make sure that you include the mirror test provided by Gallup.
6. Be able to explain spontaneous recovery and resurgence related to when behavior
re-appears.
7. Explain Skinner’s view of rules with the function-altering view.
Exam #2
Session #5 (updated 2/8/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Phylogeny
2. Ontogeny
3. What is tabula rasa? Who, in modern times, came up with this?
4. In what way is operant conditioning and respondent conditioning a functionaltering operation?
5. What is the point about explaining behavior by appealing to “instinct?”
6. What is a genotype’s fitness?
7. What is a fixed action pattern? Give an example.
8. What do natural selection and operant conditioning replace as explanations of
behavior?
9. What is equipotentiality? Provide evidence that it does not obtain.
10. Lamarckian evolution theory example
11. Epigenetics
12. Methylation
Discussion Questions
1. What is RTE (resistance to extinction)? What are some factors that influence it.
2. Give examples in which phylogeny interferes with ontogeny
3. Contrast gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Explain the appearance of
giraffes with long necks using each theory.
4. Give an example of the intermingling of contingencies of reinforcement and
survival.
5. Breland and Breland studies (Misbehavior of organisms) – give some examples
and what was the conclusion?
6. Given the table that compares natural selection and operant conditioning, talk
about 3-4 of the concepts that compares the two processes.
7. Explain how the effects of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking) might affect future
generations using epigenetics
8. Explain the agouti mouse experiment and the implications of it.
Session #6 (updated 2/24/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Is emotion a cause or effect? Note that in traditional views, behavior is often seen
as a result of the emotion (e.g., “He behaved aggressively because of his anger”)
2. What are some of problems in identifying emotion with
a. internal responses of the smooth muscles and glands and
b. common expressions of facial and postural muscles
3. Given an emotion, provide an explanation using the bipartite explanation of
emotion provided by Skinner.
4. What is “frustration” caused by?
5. What are emotional operations? Give some examples. What is the current
classification of emotional operations (i.e., where do they fit into the operant
paradigm)?
6. Talk about some practical uses of emotional operations.
7. What is the view of punishment according to Holz and Azrin?
8. What are some side effects of positive reinforcement? Include good and
unfortunate effects.
9. What are some side effects of punishment?
10. What is the difference between forgetting and extinction?
11. What are rights from a behavioral point of view?
Discussion Questions
1. Give an explanation of phobias using Skinners view of emotion. Be prepared to
discuss a behavioral Tx program for a phobia (include both respondent and
operant behavior).
2. Given a punished behavior, explain its reduction by appealing to effects #2 and #3
of Skinner’s view.
3. Explain Skinner’s view of punishment. Include the two factor elements of the
explanation.
4. What are some alternatives to punishment?
5. Be able to explain concurrent superstitions. At a minimum:
a. Describe the Catania & Cutts experiment with pigeons (Conc VI VI to
Conc VI Ext)
b. Apply the experiment to everyday life
c. Describe how to treat this using a changeover delay.
Session #7 (updated 2/24/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. According to Skinner, how does a lie detector work?
2. Delay reduction hypothesis of conditioned reinforcement.
3. Give an example of a variable with multiple effects.
4. Why does extinction sometimes involve an oscillation of behavior undergoing
extinction? (see Skinner)
5. Give an example of a behavior being under the control of multiple variables
through the use of different reinforcers.
6. In behavioral terms, explain the following:
a. Projection
b. Repression
7. Is there really any “self” in self control?
8. What is the role of the surrounding community in self control?
9. How can a reinforcer have SD/S-Delta effects? Explain using an example.
10. Punishment contrast - Describe it and be able to draw a graph
11. Give an example of two sets of variables that occur at the same time, and the
resulting behavior in terms of algebraic summation.
Discussion Questions
1. Explain the following using examples:
a. Formal prompts
b. Thematic prompt
c. Formal probe
d. Thematic probe
2. Discuss Skinner’s example in which the appearance of candy evokes much
nagging and whining.
3. What is Skinner’s view of self control? What are the two repertoires? What are
some techniques that he describes? Develop an example that uses some of the
techniques.
4. What is the EAB model of self control? Use an example with a diagram to
explain your point. Be able to explain how where the choice point is will
determine which alternative is selected.
5. Conditioned suppression:
a. EAB
b. ABA
6. Give an example of a behavior being under the control of multiple variables
through the use of different reinforcers. Be able to describe the emotional
behavior attendant to the contingencies.
7. Explain the use of projective tests in behavioral terms. Include in your discussion
the Rorschach test and the verbal summator (include supplemental stimuli in the
explanation).
8. Using the delay reduction hypothesis, be able to analyze a situation in which
problem behavior is occurring. Then suggest a programmatic change that would
improve the situation.
Exam #3
Session #9 (updated 3/29/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Provide evidence that “creative” or “original” behavior can be strengthened by
positive reinforcement (e.g., Baer’s study; porpoises)
2. In problem solving, does the appearance of a solution always mean that problem
solving has occurred? Give some alternatives that describe what else might have
happened.
3. How does Skinner account for novel “ideas.”
4. What are some practical advantages of a functional analysis of thinking?
5. Give an example of Skinner’s point that private stimuli have a different effect on
the person vs the community (e.g., see the example of a cavity)
6. What are some advantages of covert behavior.
7. What is a hallucination?
8. Difference between analysis and interpretation.
Discussion Questions
1. Explain the 2 kinds of behavior in:
a. Self control
b. Making a decision
c. Problem solving
2. Review 2 ways that tacting private events comes about.
3. Give a behavioral interpretation of how we recall previous events (see Palmer’s
discussion in the PP that is posted on website)
4. What are some problem-solving techniques that Skinner describes.
5. Explain wit, from a behavioral point of view, and provide an example.
6. Explain the two kinds of seeing in the absence of the thing seen: conditioned
seeing, and operant seeing. Give practical uses of operant seeing.
7. Explain Cautela’s covert conditioning procedures with some examples (include
covert reinforcement, covert punishment, and covert extinction)
8. Provide a procedure that could teach a kid to tact previous events.
9. Explain resurgence using a real-life example.
Session #10 (updated 3/29/13)
Terms and concepts
1. What is the objection to using artificial reinforcers for activities such as good grades,
attending school, or remaining “not pregnant?”
2. What is a relationship?
3. What is a coercive relationship?
4. Give an example of a relationship with
a. Both parties use positive reinforcement
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
b. One party uses positive and one uses negative reinforcement
c. Both parties use negative reinforcement
When do we feel free? (3 kinds of situations)
If we “feel free,” does that mean that our behavior is truly free and not determined by
some set of variables? Please explain.
What is affiliation? (see Baum)
What is behavior with “intrinsic motivation?”
What does it mean to be behaving “responsibly?” or “irresponsibly?”
Discussion questions
1. Behaviorally define the following terms:
a. Responsibility
b. Credit
c. Blame
d. When are these concepts most often used (or, when do we tend to assign
blame and credit to others for the their behavior)?
2. What is the overjustification effect?
a. Design an experiment to demonstrate it, if it were to occur
b. In the above experiment, provide an alternative explanation of the effect if it is
demonstrated
3. Explain Baum’s expanded model of self control (the reinforcement trap)
4. What elements are important in classifying someone temporarily insane?
5. One of the criticisms of behavior analysis is the use of external reinforcers – indeed,
sometimes this is called bribery. Develop a reasonable reaction to this criticism.
Session #11 (updated 3/29/2013)
Terms and Concepts
1. Security dilemma (oscillation of ascendancy)
2. Power
3. Government – Skinner’s limited view
4. Equal relationship example
5. Unequal relationship example
6. Law
7. Freedom
8. Holding someone accountable
9. Rights
10. Skinner point about advantage of behavior analysis in explaining behavior in all fields
of human behavior
11. “Just” government
12. Laws
13. Labels of behavior used by government
14. What is present if a relationship is “equitable.”
15. Democracy, representative democracy, plutocracy, oligarchy
Discussion Questions
1. Give examples of the following kinds of relationships
a. Individual – individual
b. Individual – organization
c. Organization – organization
2. Describe some of the techniques that government uses to influence the behavior of its
citizens, and some of the techniques of counter control that are available.
3. Discuss exploitation with some examples, Be able to use the reinforcement trap in
your analysis.
4. Give an example of the use of counter-control and why it is important.
5. Given a societal problem, describe a potential antecedent manipulation and one that
involves consequences.
Final Exam (updated 4/19/2013)
Terms and concepts
1. Moral relativism
2. Values in science
3. Teleology
4. Spontaneous recovery
5. Metaphor
6. Meaning of a word
7. Give a behavioral interpretation of “awareness.”
8. Rules
9. Rule-governed behavior
10. Phylogeny
11. Ontogeny
12. SSDR
13. In what way is reinforcement a function-altering operation?
14. What is equipotentiality? Provide evidence that it does not obtain.
15. According to Skinner, how does a lie detector work?
16. Given an emotion, provide an explanation using the bipartite explanation of emotion
provided by Skinner.
17. What are emotional operations? Give some examples.
18. Talk about some practical uses of emotional operations.
19. What is the view of punishment according to Holz and Azrin?
20. What are some side effects of positive reinforcement? Include good and unfortunate
effects.
21. Give an example of a variable with multiple effects.
22. Give an example of a behavior being under the control of multiple variables.
23. Explain the use of projective tests in behavioral terms. (include supplemental stimuli
in the explanation)
24. What is the verbal summator?
25. In behavioral terms, explain the following:
a. Projection
b. Repression
26. How can a reinforcer have SD/S-Delta effects? Explain using an example.
27. Provide evidence that “creative” or “original” behavior can be strengthened by
positive reinforcement.
28. How does Skinner account for novel “ideas.”
29. Lamarckian evolution theory example
30. Epigenetics
31. Methylation
32. Rights
33. Skinner point about advantage of behavior analysis in explaining behavior in all fields
of human behavior
34. Culture
35. Taste aversion in rats
Discussion questions
1. Lepper et al. 1973 study – procedures & results
2. Roland Fryer study – procedure & results
3. Take an agency of control (e.g., religion, government) and talk about the following:
a. Labels
b. Methods of control used
c. Countercontrol that exists
d. Why the agency exists
7. What are the 3 levels of selection? (include what is selected and the mechanism).
Give examples of each.
8. Explain why people may implement treatments for autism that are not supported by
scientific research, or why people in the past tried to cure diseases with treatments
that had no basis in science.
9. Be able to discuss how incorrect assumptions about the cause of disease gave rise to
wildly inappropriate treatment procedures (include the system with the 4 humours –
and the use of the gods).
10. Give an example of the intermingling of contingencies of reinforcement and
contingencies of survival (e.g., betta splendens)
11. Explain the experiment that demonstrated what imprinting was all about. What is the
ultimate conclusion of that study? (i.e. what is actually inherited?)
12. Explain the DOE.
13. Describe 3 ways that we come to tact private events.
14. Explain how rules might be function-altering – give an example
15. Give examples in which phylogeny interferes with ontogeny.
16. Contrast gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Explain the appearance of giraffes
with long necks using each theory.
17. Breland and Breland studies (Misbehavior of organisms) – give some examples and
what was the conclusion?
18. Give an explanation of phobias using Skinners view of emotion. Be prepared to
discuss a behavioral Tx program for a phobia (include both respondent and
operant behavior).
19. Given a punished behavior, explain its reduction by appealing to effects #2 and #3 of
Skinner’s view.
20. Explain the following:
a. Formal prompts
b. Thematic prompt
c. Formal probe
d. Thematic probe
21. Discuss Skinner’s example in which the appearance of candy evokes much nagging
and whining.
22. What is Skinner’s view of self control? What are the two repertoires? What are some
techniques that he describes?
23. Conditioned suppression:
a. EAB
b. ABA
24. Explain the 2 repertoires in:
a.
Self control
b.
Making a decision
c.
Problem solving
25. Give a behavioral interpretation of how we recall previous events.
26. Explain wit, from a behavioral point of view, and provide an example.
27. Explain the two kinds of seeing in the absence of the thing seen: conditioned seeing,
and operant seeing. Give practical uses of operant seeing.
28. When do we feel free?
29. Behaviorally define the following terms:
a.
Responsibility
b.
Credit
c.
When are these concepts most often used?
30. What is the overjustification effect?
a. Design an experiment to demonstrate it, if it were to occur
b. In the above experiment, provide an alternative explanation of the effect if it is
demonstrated
31. Explain Baum’s expanded model of self control (the reinforcement trap)
32. One of the criticisms of behavior analysis is the use of external reinforcers – indeed,
sometimes this is called bribery. Develop a reasonable reaction to this criticism.
33. Explain how the effects of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking) might affect future
generations using epigenetics
34. Explain the agouti mouse experiment and the implications of it
35. What is the role of science in the design of culture?
36. Skinner has been oft-criticized about his views on cultural design. Know at least 2 of
these, and have a rejoinder to counter these.
37. Signs of damage as a reinforcer
a. Lab example & sample procedure
b. Applied example & sample procedure