Chapter 6

Question 0

Habituation

Answer 0

An organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeating exposure to it

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Question 2

Associative learning

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Stimulus

Answer 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Question 4

Cognitive learning

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Classical conditioning

Answer 5

A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Question 6

Behaviorism

Answer 6

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Question 7

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 7

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no repose before conditioning

Question 8

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 8

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus (US)

Question 9

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 9

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response (UR)

Question 10

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Acquisition

Answer 12

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

Question 13

Higher-order conditioning

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Extinction (in reference to learnings)

Answer 14

The diminishing of a conditional response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

Question 15

Spontaneous recovery (in reference to learning)

Answer 15

The reappearance, after a pause, of extinguished conditioned response

Question 16

Generalization

Answer 16

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Question 17

Discrimination (in reference to learning)

Answer 17

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditional stimulus

Question 18

Operant conditioning

Answer 18

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened of followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

Question 19

Law of effect

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Operant chamber

Answer 20

In operant conditioning research, a chamber (aka a Skinner box) containing a bar or a key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer

Question 21

Reinforcement

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Shaping

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Discriminative stimulus

Answer 23

In operant conditioning, a stimulus hat elicits a repose after association with reinforcement

Question 24

Positive reinforcement

Answer 24

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers

Question 25

Negative reinforcement

Answer 25

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli

Question 26

Primary reinforcer

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Conditioned reinforcer

Answer 27

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; aka secondary reinforcer

Question 28

Reinforcement schedule

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 29

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Question 30

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 30

Reinforcing a response only part of the time

Question 31

Fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 31

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

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

Fixed-interval schedule

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Variable interval schedule

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Punishment

Answer 35

An event that tends to decrease the behaviors that it follows

Question 36

Respondent behavior

Answer 36

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Question 37

Operant behavior

Answer 37

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Question 38

Cognitive map

Answer 38

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment

Question 39

Latent learning

Answer 39

Learning that occurs but is now apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Question 40

Insight

Answer 40

A sudden realization of a problem's solution

Question 41

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 41

A desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Question 42

Coping

Answer 42

Alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods

Question 43

Problem-focused coping

Answer 43

Attempting to alleviate stress directly-by changing the stressor or the at we interact with that stressor

Question 44

Emotion-focused coping

Answer 44

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one's stress reaction

Question 45

Learned helplessness

Answer 45

The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

Question 46

External locus of control

Answer 46

The perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate

Question 47

Internal locus of control

Answer 47

The perception that you control your own fate

Question 48

Self-control

Answer 48

The ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards

Question 49

Observational learning

Answer 49

Learning by observing others

Question 50

Modeling

Answer 50

The process of observing and imitation a specific behavior

Question 51

Mirror neurons

Answer 51

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so

Question 52

Prosocial behavior

Answer 52

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior.