Chapter 5 - Learning

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

A relatively enduring change in behavior or thinking that results from experiences

Question 2

habituation

Answer 2

basic form of learning evident when an organism does not respond as strongly or as often to an event following multiple exposures to it

Question 3

stimulus

Answer 3

an event or occurrence that generally leads to a response

Question 4

neutral stimulus

Answer 4

a stimulus that does not cause a relevant automatic or reflexive response

Question 5

classical conditioning

Answer 5

learning process where 2 stimuli become associated with each other when and originally neutral stimulus is conditioned to elicit involuntary response

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 6

a stimulus that automatically triggers an involuntary response without any learning needed

Question 7

unconditioned response

Answer 7

A reflexive or involuntary response to an unconditioned stimulus

Question 8

conditioned stimulus

Answer 8

previously neutral stimuli that organisms learn to associate with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 9

conditioned response

Answer 9

a learned response to a conditional stimuli

Question 10

acquisition

Answer 10

initial learning phase in both classical and operant learning

Question 11

stimulus generalization

Answer 11

once a CS and CR are learned the learner can respond to similar stimuli as if they were the CS

Question 12

stimulus discrimination

Answer 12

The ability to differentiate between CS and a stimuli that is sufficiently different

Question 13

extinction(classical)

Answer 13

presenting the CS without the US repeatedly the association between the two can fade and eventually disappear

Question 14

extinction (operant)

Answer 14

the disappearance of a learned behavior through the removal of its reinforcer

Question 15

spontaneous recovery

Answer 15

the reappearance of a CR after its extinction

Question 16

higher order conditioning

Answer 16

a CS and NS are repeatedly associated with each other and after a while the new NS becomes a CS as well

Question 17

conditioned taste aversion

Answer 17

classical conditioning that occurs when an organism learns to associate the taste of a particular food or drink with illness

Question 18

adaptive value

Answer 18

the degree to which a trait or behavior helps an organism survive

Question 19

biological preparedness

Answer 19

the predisposition or inclination of animals(and people) to form certain kinds of associations through classical conditioning

Question 20

conditional emotional response

Answer 20

an emotional reaction acquired through classical conditioning; process by which an emotional reaction becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus

Question 21

operant conditioning

Answer 21

people or animals come to associate their voluntary actions with consequences

Question 22

law of effect

Answer 22

a behavior is more likely to happen again when followed by a pleasurable outcome

Question 23

reinforcers

Answer 23

something that will increase the likelihood that the preceding behavior will happen again

Question 24

successive approximations

Answer 24

using reinforcers to change behavior through small steps to a desired behavior

Question 25

shaping

Answer 25

a person observes the behaviors of another organism and provides reinforcers if the organism performs at a required level

Question 26

instinctive drift

Answer 26

the tendency for animals to revert to instinctual behaviors after a behavior pattern has been learned

Question 27

positive reinforcement

Answer 27

reinforcers are added following the target behavior and they are generally pleasant

Question 28

negative reinforcement

Answer 28

things that are unpleasant are taken away after the proper behavior is achieved

Question 29

primary reinforcers

Answer 29

satisfies a biological need

Question 30

secondary reinforcer

Answer 30

dont satisfy biological need but often gain power through their association with primary reinforcers
Ex: money or grades

Question 31

continuous reinforcement

Answer 31

a schedule of reinforcement in which every target behavior is reinforced

Question 32

partial reinforcement

Answer 32

a schedule for reinforcement in which target behaviors are reinforced intermittently not continuously

Question 33

partial reinforcement effect

Answer 33

the tendency for behaviors acquired through intermittent reinforcement to be more resistant to extinction than those acquired through continuous reinforcement

Question 34

fixed ratio schedule

Answer 34

a schedule in which the subject must exhibit a predetermined number of desired behaviors before a reinforcer is given

Question 35

variable ratio schedule

Answer 35

the number of desired responses or behaviors that must occur before a reinforcer is given changes across trials

Question 36

fixed interval schedule

Answer 36

the reinforcer comes after a preestablished interval of time; a reinforcer is given for the first target behavior after that period has elapsed

Question 37

variable interval schedule

Answer 37

the length of time between reinforcers is unpredictable. in this schedule the reinforcer comes after an interval of time goes by but the length of the interval changes from trial to trial

Question 38

punishment

Answer 38

the application of a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring

Question 39

positive punishment

Answer 39

the addition of something unpleasant following unwanted behavior with the intention of decreasing the behavior

Question 40

negative punishment

Answer 40

the removal of something desirable following and unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior

Question 41

models

Answer 41

the individual or character whose behavior is being intimidated

Question 42

observational learning

Answer 42

learning that occurs as a result of watching the behavior of others

Question 43

prosocial behaviors

Answer 43

actions that are kind generous and beneficial to others

Question 44

latent learning

Answer 44

occurs without awareness and regardless of reinforcement and is not evident until needed

Question 45

cognitive map

Answer 45

a mental representation of physical space