Chapter 5: Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

A systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience

Question 2

Behaviorism

Answer 2

A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as wishing, thinking, and hoping

Question 3

Associative learning

Answer 3

Learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection, or an association between two events

Question 4

Observational learning

Answer 4

Learning that occurs through observing and imitating another’s behavior

Question 5

Classical conditioning

Answer 5

Learning process in which neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response

Question 6

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 6

A stimulus that produces a response without prior learning

Question 7

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 7

An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus

Question 8

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus

Question 9

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 9

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after a conditioned stimulus—unconditioned stimulus pairing

Question 10

Acquisition

Answer 10

The initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired

Question 11

Generalization (classical conditioning)

Answer 11

The tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response

Question 12

Discrimination (classical conditioning)

Answer 12

The process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others

Question 13

Extinction (classical conditioning)

Answer 13

The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent

Question 14

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 14

The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning

Question 15

Counterconditioning

Answer 15

A classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response

Question 16

Aversive conditioning

Answer 16

A form of treatment that consists of repeating pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus

Question 17

Habituation

Answer 17

Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations

Question 18

Operant (instrumental) conditioning

Answer 18

A form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of a behaviors occurrence

Question 19

Shaping

Answer 19

Reward successive approximations of a desired behavior

Question 20

Reinforcement

Answer 20

The process by which a stimulus or an event (reinforcer) following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again

Question 21

Positive reinforcement

Answer 21

The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior

Question 22

Negative reinforcement

Answer 22

The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior

Question 23

Learned helplessness

Answer 23

Through experience with unavoidable adverse stimuli, and organism learns that it has no control over negative outcomes

Question 24

Avoidance learning

Answer 24

An organism’s learning that it can altogether avoid a negative stimulus by making a particular response

Question 25

Primary reinforcer

Answer 25

A reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism’s part to make it pleasurable

Question 26

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 26

A reinforcer that acquires its positive value through and organisms experience; a secondary reinforcer is a learner or conditioned reinforcer

Question 27

Punishment

Answer 27

A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur

Question 28

Positive punishment

Answer 28

The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior

Question 29

Negative punishment

Answer 29

The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior

Question 30

Latent learning (implicit learning)

Answer 30

Unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior

Question 31

Insight learning

Answer 31

A form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of the problem’s solution