Behavioral Psychology Basics: Introduction and Key Concepts MCQs

Explore the fundamentals of behavioral psychology with our MCQ exam. Test your knowledge of key concepts, theories and real-world applications.

Questions (30)


  1. Who is considered the father of behavioral psychology?

    • a) Sigmund Freud
    • b) Ivan Pavlov
    • c) Carl Rogers
    • d) John B. Watson
    View Answer
    Correct John B. Watson
  2. What is the primary focus of behavioral psychology?

    • a) Understanding unconscious thoughts and desires
    • b) Observing and analyzing overt behavior
    • c) Exploring the impact of childhood experiences
    • d) Studying the structure of the human mind
    View Answer
    Correct Observing and analyzing overt behavior
  3. Which of the following techniques is commonly used in behavioral therapy?

    • a) Systematic desensitization
    • b) Dream analysis
    • c) Free association
    • d) Humanistic counseling
    View Answer
    Correct Systematic desensitization
  4. What does "operant conditioning" primarily involve?

    • a) Learning through rewards and punishments
    • b) Learning through observing others
    • c) Learning through classical conditioning
    • d) Learning through innate behaviors
    View Answer
    Correct Learning through rewards and punishments
  5. Which psychologist is most associated with operant conditioning?

    • a) Albert Bandura
    • b) B.F. Skinner
    • c) Jean Piaget
    • d) Wilhelm Wundt
    View Answer
    Correct B.F. Skinner
  6. What is the term for a stimulus that naturally triggers a response?

    • a) Neutral stimulus
    • b) Conditioned stimulus
    • c) Unconditioned stimulus
    • d) Reinforcing stimulus
    View Answer
    Correct Unconditioned stimulus
  7. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?

    • a) Removing a negative stimulus after a desired behavior
    • b) Giving a reward to increase a desired behavior
    • c) Ignoring undesirable behavior
    • d) Punishing undesirable behavior
    View Answer
    Correct Giving a reward to increase a desired behavior
  8. What is "extinction" in behavioral psychology?

    • a) The complete removal of a stimulus
    • b) The natural elimination of unconditioned responses
    • c) The strengthening of a behavior through reinforcement
    • d) The weakening of a conditioned response when reinforcement is no longer provided
    View Answer
    Correct The weakening of a conditioned response when reinforcement is no longer provided
  9. Which concept explains learning by observing and imitating others?

    • a) Classical conditioning
    • b) Observational learning
    • c) Operant conditioning
    • d) Cognitive restructuring
    View Answer
    Correct Observational learning
  10. Albert Bandura's "Bobo doll" experiment is related to which concept?

    • a) Classical conditioning
    • b) Operant conditioning
    • c) Observational learning
    • d) Systematic desensitization
    View Answer
    Correct Observational learning
  11. What does a "neutral stimulus" become in classical conditioning?

    • a) A conditioned response
    • b) A conditioned stimulus
    • c) An unconditioned stimulus
    • d) A reflexive response
    View Answer
    Correct A conditioned stimulus
  12. What is an example of negative reinforcement?

    • a) Giving a reward for completing a task
    • b) Taking away an unpleasant stimulus after desired behavior
    • c) Ignoring undesired behavior
    • d) Adding a punishment to decrease undesired behavior
    View Answer
    Correct Taking away an unpleasant stimulus after desired behavior
  13. What is "shaping" in operant conditioning?

    • a) Gradually training behavior by reinforcing successive approximations
    • b) Using punishment to eliminate unwanted behavior
    • c) Observing others to learn a new skill
    • d) Pairing stimuli to create associations
    View Answer
    Correct Gradually training behavior by reinforcing successive approximations
  14. Which reinforcement schedule provides rewards after a set number of responses?

    • a) Fixed-ratio schedule
    • b) Variable-ratio schedule
    • c) Fixed-interval schedule
    • d) Variable-interval schedule
    View Answer
    Correct Fixed-ratio schedule
  15. What type of learning occurs without conscious awareness?

    • a) Cognitive learning
    • b) Explicit learning
    • c) Implicit learning
    • d) Observational learning
    View Answer
    Correct Implicit learning
  16. Which psychologist is known for the "Law of Effect"?

    • a) John B. Watson
    • b) Edward Thorndike
    • c) B.F. Skinner
    • d) Albert Bandura
    View Answer
    Correct Edward Thorndike
  17. What is "stimulus generalization"?

    • a) Applying the same response to similar stimuli
    • b) Learning a specific response to one stimulus
    • c) Ignoring irrelevant stimuli in the environment
    • d) Reversing a conditioned response
    View Answer
    Correct Applying the same response to similar stimuli
  18. What is the main principle of the "behaviorist" approach?

    • a) Behavior is influenced by unconscious motives
    • b) Behavior is a result of observable stimuli and responses
    • c) Behavior is a reflection of genetic predispositions
    • d) Behavior is shaped by self-actualization efforts
    View Answer
    Correct Behavior is a result of observable stimuli and responses
  19. What does "systematic desensitization" aim to treat?

    • a) Depression
    • b) Cognitive distortions
    • c) Eating disorders
    • d) Phobias and anxiety disorders
    View Answer
    Correct Phobias and anxiety disorders
  20. What is the role of a "punishment" in operant conditioning?

    • a) To increase the likelihood of a behavior
    • b) To decrease the likelihood of a behavior
    • c) To have no effect on behavior
    • d) To create a new learned behavior
    View Answer
    Correct To decrease the likelihood of a behavior
  21. What does "latent learning" demonstrate?

    • a) Learning occurs but is not immediately demonstrated
    • b) Learning requires immediate reinforcement
    • c) Learning is only observable through behavior
    • d) Learning cannot occur without active engagement
    View Answer
    Correct Learning occurs but is not immediately demonstrated
  22. What is "token economy" in behavioral psychology?

    • a) A system of reinforcement involving tokens as rewards
    • b) A financial model for psychology clinics
    • c) A cognitive method to manage stress
    • d) An observational learning experiment
    View Answer
    Correct A system of reinforcement involving tokens as rewards
  23. Which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?

    • a) Fixed-ratio
    • b) Fixed-interval
    • c) Variable-ratio
    • d) Variable-interval
    View Answer
    Correct Variable-ratio
  24. Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivating at the sound of a bell paired with food
    • b) A student studying hard to earn a reward
    • c) A worker receiving praise for good performance
    • d) A child imitating a parent’s behavior
    View Answer
    Correct A dog salivating at the sound of a bell paired with food
  25. Which concept explains the decrease in response after repeated exposure to a stimulus?

    • a) Sensitization
    • b) Habituation
    • c) Extinction
    • d) Generalization
    View Answer
    Correct Habituation
  26. Who conducted the famous "Little Albert" experiment?

    • a) B.F. Skinner
    • b) John B. Watson
    • c) Albert Bandura
    • d) Ivan Pavlov
    View Answer
    Correct John B. Watson
  27. What does "behavior modification" aim to do?

    • a) Change undesirable behaviors using reinforcement and punishment
    • b) Understand unconscious motives for behaviors
    • c) Improve emotional intelligence
    • d) Enhance innate behavior patterns
    View Answer
    Correct Change undesirable behaviors using reinforcement and punishment
  28. Which term describes a behavior increasing in frequency due to the removal of a negative stimulus?

    • a) Positive reinforcement
    • b) Negative reinforcement
    • c) Punishment
    • d) Extinction
    View Answer
    Correct Negative reinforcement
  29. What is the role of "reinforcement" in behavior?

    • a) To increase the likelihood of a behavior
    • b) To decrease the likelihood of a behavior
    • c) To have no effect on behavior
    • d) To create confusion in learning
    View Answer
    Correct To increase the likelihood of a behavior
  30. What is a "fixed-interval schedule"?

    • a) Rewarding behavior after a set amount of time has passed
    • b) Rewarding behavior after a random amount of time has passed
    • c) Rewarding behavior after a set number of responses
    • d) Rewarding behavior after a variable number of responses
    View Answer
    Correct Rewarding behavior after a set amount of time has passed

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