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EXAM #1
Session #1
Terms and concepts:
1. Describe the basic procedures used by Thorndike and Pavlov.
2. What are the 3 causes of behavior, according to the philosophy of behaviorism?
3. 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).
4. James Lind and scurvy
5. Joseph Lister
6. Significance of diphtheria in history of medicine
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 – and the use of the gods).
4. Discuss the characteristics of science using the 6 elements.
5. Be able to discuss the history of behavior analysis using Thorndike, Watson,
Pavlov, and Skinner
Session #2
Terms and concepts
1. Placebo effect
2. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc – what is wrong with this logic
3. Behavioral view of values
4. Teleology
5. Why scientists have left the lab
6. Spontaneous recovery - what is it
7. Spontaneous recover – why it occurs
8. Primary dv in science of behavior
9. Inductive reasoning
10. Deductive reasoning
11. Skinner’s objection to theories
12. Standard chart: 1 behavior in the entire observation-where plotted
13. Standard chart: 0 behavior in the entire observation-where plotted
Discussion Questions
1. Be able to discuss a few alternative explanations of behavior that differ from
that afforded by the 3 levels of selection.
2. Give an example of the intermingling of contingencies of reinforcement and
contingencies of survival (e.g., betta splendens)
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?
7. Explain the DOE and then critique the explanation provided by the researchers
who studied this.
8. Be able to give 3 common objections to behaviorism, and then provide a
rejoinder to each.
Session #3
Terms and concepts
1. Metaphor
2. Meaning of a word
3. Give a behavioral interpretation of “awareness.”
4. Give an example in which we construct SDs to affect future behavior.
5. Rules
6. Rule-governed behavior
7. Contingency
8. Contingency-shaped behavior
9. How do rules function (according to Skinner)
10. Problem
11. Solution
12. Problem solving repertoire
13. Impure tact
Discussion questions
1. Describe the typical tact training procedure.
2. Describe the 4 ways that we come to tact private events.
3. Describe the Thorndike experiment. How would Skinner have dealt with the
problem in the puzzle box?
4. Give an advantage and disadvantage of contingency-shaped behavior and rulegoverned behavior.
5. Explain how rules might be function-altering – give an example
Exam #2
Session #5
Terms and concepts
1. Phylogeny
2. Ontogeny
3. SSDR
4. Auto shaping
5. What is tabula rasa? Who, in modern times, came up with this? What is the
current view?
6. In what way is reinforcement a function-altering operation?
7. Describe the experiment involving superstitious behavior.
8. What is point about explaining behavior by appealing to “instinct?”
9. What is a genotype’s fitness?
10. What is a fixed action pattern? Give an example.
11. What do natural selection and operant conditioning replace as explanations of
behavior?
12. What is equipotentiality? Provide evidence that it does not obtain.
13. Bait shyness or taste aversion (if you want to research this, look up studies by
Garcia – or ask me about this in class)
Discussion Questions
1. What is RTE? 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. Be able to recreate the table that compares natural selection and operant
conditioning.
Session #6
Terms and concepts
1. What are some traditional views of emotion?
2. According to Skinner, how does a lie detector work?
3. 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
4. Given an emotion, provide an explanation using the bipartite explanation of
emotion provided by Skinner.
5. What is “frustration” caused by?
6. 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)?
7. Talk about some practical uses of emotional operations.
8. What is the view of punishment according to Holz and Azrin?
9. What are some side effects of positive reinforcement? Include good and
unfortunate effects.
10. What are some side effects of punishment?
11. What is the difference between forgetting and extinction?
12. Punishment contrast
Discussion Questions
1. Design and graph an experiment that studies the rate of extinction as a function of
previous schedule of reinforcement.
2. 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).
3. Given a punished behavior, explain its reduction by appealing to effects #2 and #3
of Skinner’s view.
4. Explain Skinner’s view of punishment, and cite all 3 effects. Include the two
factor elements of the explanation.
5. What are some alternatives to punishment?
6. Explain taste aversion and how it addresses the concept of equipotentiality.
Session #7
Terms and concepts
1. Give an example of a variable with multiple effects.
2. Why does extinction sometimes involve an oscillation of behavior undergoing
extinction?
3. Give an example of a behavior being under the control of multiple variables.
4. Explain the use of projective tests in behavioral terms. (include supplemental
stimuli in the explanation)
5. What is the verbal summator?
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. Diagram the expanded model of self control choices that involve aversive stimuli.
10. How can a reinforcer have SD/S-Delta effects? Explain using an example.
11. Explain how drugs might used in self control.
Discussion Questions
1. Explain the following:
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?
4. What is the EAB model of self control? What are some research findings about
how to strengthen (or teach) self control?
5. Conditioned suppression:
a. EAB
b. ABA
Exam #3
Session #9
Terms and concepts
1. Provide evidence that “creative” or “original” behavior can be strengthened by
positive reinforcement.
2. Explain the role of the community in developing the 3 repertoires described below
(self control, deciding, problem solving).
3. 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.
4. How does Skinner account for novel “ideas.”
5. What are some practical advantages of a functional analysis of thinking?
6. What are the 3 kinds of stimuli that Skinner discusses?
7. 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)
8. What are some advantages of covert behavior.
9. What is a hallucination?
Discussion Questions
1. Explain the 2 repertoires in:
a. Self control
b. Making a decision
c. Problem solving
2. Review the ways that tacting private events comes about.
3. Give a behavioral interpretation of how we recall previous events.
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. Explain the
application of operant seeing in Cautela’s covert conditioning (covert
reinforcement, covert punishment, covert extinction).
Session #10
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
b. One party uses positive and one uses negative reinforcement
5.
6.
7.
8.
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?
What is behavior with “intrinsic motivation?”
Discussion questions
1. Behaviorally define the following terms:
a. Responsibility
b. Credit
c. Blame
d. When are these concepts most often used?
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. If
you need help with this, let me know or bring it up in class.
Session #11
Terms and Concepts
1. Lamarckian evolution theory example
2. Epigenetics
3. Methylation
4. Security dilemma
5. Power
6. Government – Skinner’s limited view
7. Equal relationship example
8. Unequal relationship example
9. Law
10. Freedom
11. Holding someone accountable
12. Rights (see Skinner)
13. Skinner point about advantage of behavior analysis in explaining behavior in all fields
of human behavior
14. “Just” government
Discussion Questions
1. Explain how the effects of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking) might affect future
generations using epigenetics
2. Explain the agouti mouse experiment and the implications of it
3. Give examples of the following kinds of relationships
a. Individual – individual
b. Individual – organization
c. Organization – organization
4. Describe some of the techniques that government uses to influence the behavior of its
citizens.
5. Discuss exploitation with some examples, and contrast the use of positive
reinforcement and punishment/negative reinforcement in your examples.
6. Give an example of the use of counter-control and why it is important.
Final Exam
Terms and concepts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Moral relativism
Values in science
How “Golden Rule” could be a function of contingencies
What are the 3 causes of behavior, according to the philosophy of behaviorism?
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).
6. Behavioral view of values
7. Teleology
8. Spontaneous recovery - what is it
9. Spontaneous recover – why it occurs
10. Skinner’s objection to theories
11. Metaphor
12. Meaning of a word
13. Give a behavioral interpretation of “awareness.”
14. Rules
15. Rule-governed behavior
16. Phylogeny
17. Ontogeny
18. SSDR
19. In what way is reinforcement a function-altering operation?
20. What is equipotentiality? Provide evidence that it does not obtain.
21. Bait shyness or taste aversion
22. According to Skinner, how does a lie detector work?
23. Given an emotion, provide an explanation using the bipartite explanation of emotion
provided by Skinner.
24. 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)?
25. Talk about some practical uses of emotional operations.
26. What is the view of punishment according to Holz and Azrin?
27. What are some side effects of positive reinforcement? Include good and unfortunate
effects.
28. Give an example of a variable with multiple effects.
29. Give an example of a behavior being under the control of multiple variables.
30. Explain the use of projective tests in behavioral terms. (include supplemental stimuli
in the explanation)
31. What is the verbal summator?
32. In behavioral terms, explain the following:
a. Projection
b. Repression
33. Diagram the expanded model of self control choices that involve aversive stimuli.
34. How can a reinforcer have SD/S-Delta effects? Explain using an example.
35. Provide evidence that “creative” or “original” behavior can be strengthened by
positive reinforcement.
36. How does Skinner account for novel “ideas.”
37. Lamarckian evolution theory example
38. Epigenetics
39. Methylation
40. Rights
41. Skinner point about advantage of behavior analysis in explaining behavior in all fields
of human behavior
42. Culture
Discussion questions
1. Translate into behavioral terms a statement such as “You should always tell the truth”
or “You should go to graduate school.”
2. Lepper et al. 1973 study – procedures
3. Lepper et al. 1973 study – results
4. Roland Fryer study – procedure
5. Roland Fryer study – results
6. Take an agency of control (e.g., religion, government) and talk about the following:
a. Labels
b. Methods of control used
c. Countercontrol that is used
6. What are the 3 levels of selection? (include what is selected and the mechanism).
Give examples of each.
7. 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.
8. 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).
9. Give an example of the intermingling of contingencies of reinforcement and
contingencies of survival (e.g., betta splendens)
10. Explain the experiment that demonstrated what imprinting was all about. What is the
ultimate conclusion of that study? (i.e. what is actually inherited?)
11. Explain the DOE.
12. Describe 3 ways that we come to tact private events.
13. Explain how rules might be function-altering – give an example
14. What is RTE? What are some factors that influence it.
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. Design and graph an experiment that studies the rate of extinction as a function of
previous schedule of reinforcement.
19. 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).
20. Given a punished behavior, explain its reduction by appealing to effects #2 and #3 of
Skinner’s view.
21. Explain the following:
a. Formal prompts
b. Thematic prompt
c. Formal probe
d. Thematic probe
22. Discuss Skinner’s example in which the appearance of candy evokes much nagging
and whining.
23. What is Skinner’s view of self control? What are the two repertoires? What are some
techniques that he describes?
24. Conditioned suppression:
a. EAB
b. ABA
25. Explain the 2 repertoires in:
a.
Self control
b.
Making a decision
c.
Problem solving
26. Give a behavioral interpretation of how we recall previous events.
27. Explain wit, from a behavioral point of view, and provide an example.
28. Explain the two kinds of seeing in the absence of the thing seen: conditioned seeing,
and operant seeing. Give practical uses of operant seeing.
29. Explain the application of operant seeing in Cautela’s covert conditioning (covert
reinforcement, covert punishment, covert extinction).
30. When do we feel free?
31. Behaviorally define the following terms:
a.
Responsibility
b.
Credit
c.
When are these concepts most often used?
32. 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
33. Explain Baum’s expanded model of self control (the reinforcement trap)
34. 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.
35. Explain how the effects of behavior (e.g., diet, smoking) might affect future
generations using epigenetics
36. Explain the agouti mouse experiment and the implications of it
37. Give an example of the use of counter-control and why it is important.
38. Joint control – everyday examples
39. What is the role of science in the design of culture?
40. Talk about culture using the following:
a. Transmission
b. Selection
c. Variation
41. Skinner has been oft-criticized about his views on cultural design. Know at least 2 of
these, and have a rejoinder to counter these.