Learning

Question 1

The process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Answer 1

Learning

Question 2

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (as in operant conditioning).

Answer 2

Associative Learning

Question 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Answer 3

Stimulus

Question 4

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Answer 4

Respondent Behavior

Question 5

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence.

Answer 5

Operant Behavior

Question 6

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Answer 6

Cognitive Learning

Question 7

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food).

Answer 7

Classical Conditioning

Question 8

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Answer 8

Behaviorism

Question 9

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Answer 9

Neural Stimulus (NS)

Question 10

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth).

Answer 10

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Question 11

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

Answer 11

Conditioned Response

Question 12

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).

Answer 12

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Question 13

In classical conditioning, the initial stage—when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. (In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.)

Answer 13

Acquisition

Question 14

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone. (Also called second-order conditioning.)

Answer 14

Higher-order conditioning

Question 15

The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.

Answer 15

Extinction

Question 16

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Answer 16

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 17

In classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (In operant conditioning, generalization occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situations.)

Answer 17

Generalization

Question 18

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.(In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced.)

Answer 18

Discrimination

Question 19

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher.

Answer 19

Operant conditioning

Question 20

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Answer 20

Law of effect

Question 21

In operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

Answer 21

Operant Chamber

Question 22

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Answer 22

Reinforcement

Question 23

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Answer 23

Shaping

Question 24

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Answer 24

Positive Reinforcement

Question 25

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

Answer 25

Negative Reinforcement

Question 26

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Answer 26

Primary reinforcer

Question 27

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer. (Also known as a secondary reinforcer.)

Answer 27

Conditioned Reinforcer

Question 28

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

Answer 28

Reinforcement Schedule

Question 29

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Answer 29

Continuous reinforcement schedule

Question 30

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

Answer 30

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

Question 31

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Answer 31

Fixed-ratio schedule

Question 32

Variable-ratio schedule

Answer 32

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Question 33

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Answer 33

Fixed-interval schedule

Question 34

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Answer 34

Variable-interval schedule

Question 35

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows.

Answer 35

Punishment

Question 36

Learning by observing others

Answer 36

Observing others

Question 37

The process by observing and imitating a specific behavior

Answer 37

Modeling

Question 38

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy.

Answer 38

Mirror Neurons

Question 39

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.

Answer 39

Prosocial Behavior