Chapter 6: Learning

Question 1

learning

definition

Answer 1

a change in an organism’s actions, thoughts, or emotions as a result of experiences

Question 2

2 simplest forms of learning

Answer 2

habituation
sensitization

Question 3

habituation

definition

Answer 3

the process by which we respond less strongly over time to repeated stimuli

Question 4

sensitization

definition

Answer 4

responding more strongly over time, especially when the stimulus is dangerous, irritating, or both

Question 5

habituation or sensitization?

I purchased a new clock + initially find it difficult to concentrate while working in the room because of the clock’s ticking. A few days pass. I am able to tune out the clock + don’t even notice the sound.

Answer 5

habituation

Question 6

habituation or sensitization?

You are sitting in a boring lecture when you notice that the speaker says “okay” after almost every sentence + during pauses. Subsequent “okays” become more + more annoying + even unbearable. You decide to leave the lecture early.

Answer 6

sensitization

Question 7

classical/Palvovian conditioning

definition

Answer 7

the form of learning in which humans/animals come to respond to a previously neutral stimulus that had been paired with another stimulus that elicits an automatic response

Question 8

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

definition

Answer 8

a stimulus that elicits an automatic, reflexive response

Question 9

unconditioned response (UCR)

definition

Answer 9

the automatic reflexive response elicited by UCS

Question 10

conditioned stimulus (CS)

definition

Answer 10

a previously neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a CR as a result of its association with a UCS

Question 11

conditioned response (CR)

definition

Answer 11

a response that is elicited by a CS but was previously elicited by a UCS

Question 12

Pavlov dog example

order of classical conditioning

Answer 12

1. before conditioning:
   UCS (food) -> UCR (salivation)
2. before conditioning:
   neutral stimulus (whistle) -> no CR (no salivation)
3. during conditioning:
   UCS (food) + neutral stimulus (whistle) -> UCR (salivation)
4. after conditioning:
   CS (whistle) -> CR (salivation)

Question 13

acquisition

in terms of CR, CS, UCS, UCR

Answer 13

gradually learn or acquire the CR through pairing CS with UCS repeatedly

Question 14

extinction

in terms of CS, CR, UCS, UCR

Answer 14

CR decreases in magnitude + eventually disappears when the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS

Question 15

spontaneous recovery

definition

Answer 15

sudden reemergency of an extinct CR after a delay in exposure to the CS

Question 16

renewal effect

definition

Answer 16

sudden reemergence of a CR following extinction when an animal is returned to the environment in which the CR was acquired

Question 17

latent inhibition

definition

Answer 17

when we’ve experienced a CS alone many times, it’s difficult to classically condition it to another stimulus

-difficulty in establishing classical conditioning to a CS we’ve repeatedly established alone (without the UCS)

Question 18

fetishism

definition

Answer 18

sexual attraction to nonliving things
-may arise in part from classical conditioning

Question 19

stimulus generalization

definition

Answer 19

process by which CS similar, but not identical, to the original CS elicit a CR

Question 20

stimulus discrimination

definition

Answer 20

process by which organisms display a less pronounced CR to CS that differ from the original CS

Question 21

higher-order conditioning

definition

Answer 21

developing a CR to a CS by virtue of its association with another CS
-each progressive level results in weaker conditioning

Question 22

2nd order conditioning

definition

Answer 22

a new CS is paired with the original CS

Question 23

3rd order conditioning

definition

Answer 23

a 3rd CS is paired with the 2nd order CS

Question 24

what is the order of conditioning?

After conditioning Pavlov’s dog to salivate to a metronome sound, I pair a picture of a circle with that metronome sound. The dog salivates to the circle as well although less strongly.

Answer 24

2nd order conditioning

Question 25

# what is the UCS? After conditioning Pavlov's dog to salivate to a metronome sound, I pair a picture of a circle with that metronome sound. The dog salivates to the circle as well although less strongly.

Answer 25

food

Question 26

# what is the UR? After conditioning Pavlov's dog to salivate to a metronome sound, I pair a picture of a circle with that metronome sound. The dog salivates to the circle as well although less strongly.

Answer 26

salivation

Question 27

# what is CS1 + the corresponding CR? After conditioning Pavlov's dog to salivate to a metronome sound, I pair a picture of a circle with that metronome sound. The dog salivates to the circle as well although less strongly.

Answer 27

CS1: metronome sound CR: salivation

Question 28

# what is CS2 + the corresponding CR? After conditioning Pavlov's dog to salivate to a metronome sound, I pair a picture of a circle with that metronome sound. The dog salivates to the circle as well although less strongly.

Answer 28

CS2: picture of a circle CR: salivation

Question 29

# what is the UCS? Peter has a phobia of rabbits. Jones gradually introduced him to a white rabbit while giving him a piece of his favorite candy. Gradually, Peter responds at the sight of the rabbit with pleasure rather than fear.

Answer 29

favorite candy

Question 30

# what is the UCR? Peter has a phobia of rabbits. Jones gradually introduced him to a white rabbit while giving him a piece of his favorite candy. Gradually, Peter responds at the sight of the rabbit with pleasure rather than fear.

Answer 30

happiness

Question 31

# what is the CS? Peter has a phobia of rabbits. Jones gradually introduced him to a white rabbit while giving him a piece of his favorite candy. Gradually, Peter responds at the sight of the rabbit with pleasure rather than fear.

Answer 31

white rabbit

Question 32

# what is the CR? Peter has a phobia of rabbits. Jones gradually introduced him to a white rabbit while giving him a piece of his favorite candy. Gradually, Peter responds at the sight of the rabbit with pleasure rather than fear.

Answer 32

happiness

Question 33

classical conditioning | definition

Answer 33

the passive process regulated by forces outside of the control of the organism

Question 34

in classical conditioning, target behavior is elicited automatically/voluntarily

Answer 34

automatically

Question 35

in classical conditioning, the reward is provided unconditionally/contingent on behavior

Answer 35

unconditionally

Question 36

in classical conditioning, behavior primarily depends on autonomic nervous system/skeletal muscles

Answer 36

ANS

Question 37

operant conditioning | definition

Answer 37

the active process entirely shaped by the organism's own behavior

Question 38

in operant conditioning, target behavior is elicited automatically/voluntarily

Answer 38

voluntarily

Question 39

in operant conditioning, the reward is provided unconditionally/contingent on behavior

Answer 39

contingent on behavior

Question 40

in operant conditioning, behavior primarily depends on the autonomic nervous system/skeletal muscles

Answer 40

skeletal muscles

Question 41

acquisition | definition

Answer 41

learning phase during which a response is established

Question 42

extinction | definition

Answer 42

gradual reduction + eventual elimination of a response after a stimulus is represented repeatedly

Question 43

spontaneous recovery | definition

Answer 43

sudden reemergence of an extinguished response after a delay

Question 44

stimulus generalization | definition

Answer 44

displaying a response to stimuli similar but not identical to the original stimulus

Question 45

stimulus discrimination | definition

Answer 45

displaying a less pronounced response to stimuli that differ from the original stimulus

Question 46

law of effect | definition

Answer 46

if a response, in the presence of a stimulus, is followed by a satisfying state of affairs, the bond between stimulus + response will be strengthened

Question 47

skinner box | definition

Answer 47

a small nonhuman animal chamber constructed by Skinner to allow sustained periods of conditioning to be administered + behaviors to be recorded unsupervised

Question 48

operant behavior | definition

Answer 48

the behavior you are attempting to condition

Question 49

reinforcer | definition

Answer 49

anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior continuting or being repeated

Question 50

punisher | definition

Answer 50

anything that decreases the likelihood of a behavior continuing or being repeated

Question 51

primary reinforcers | definition

Answer 51

those that are essential for survival/reproduction of the organism -food, water, etc.

Question 52

secondary reinforcers | definition

Answer 52

those that are not automatically related to survival/reproductive success -money, status, tokens, etc.

Question 53

positive reinforcement | definition

Answer 53

when the frequency/probability of a behavior is increased as a result of the addition/presentation of something following the performance of the behavior

Question 54

negative reinforcement | definition

Answer 54

when a behavior is reinforced by the removal/avoidance of something

Question 55

positive punishment | definition

Answer 55

when the consequence of a behavior is the addition/presentation of something that is aversive/bad

Question 56

negative punishment | definition

Answer 56

when the consequence of a behavior is the removal of something

Question 57

# positive/negative reinforcement or positive/negative punishment? I offer pop quiz bonus points in class. The class attendance increases

Answer 57

positive reinforcement

Question 58

# positive/negative reinforcement or positive/negative punishment? Whenever Arja plays video games during her zoom lesson time, her mom takes away her daily desert. Arja no longer plays video games during the zoom lesson time now.

Answer 58

negative punishment

Question 59

# positive/negative reinforcement or positive/negative punishment? The alarm in the car stops beeping after Li puts the safety belt on. Li always puts the safety belt on later whenever he gets into the car.

Answer 59

negative reinforcement

Question 60

# positive/negative reinforcement or positive/negative punishment? Alberto gets a hug from mom after cleaning up the desk. He does cleaning more.

Answer 60

positive reinforcement

Question 61

# positive/negative reinforcement or positive/negative punishment? Choi gets a spanking for cheating on the exam. She no longer cheats on exams later.

Answer 61

positive reinforcement

Question 62

issues with punishment | name 4

Answer 62

-doesn't tell what to do -creates anxiety -encourages subversive sneaky behavior -model for undesirable behaviors

Question 63

shaping by successive approximation

Answer 63

shaping involves successive reinforcement of those behaviors that come increasingly closer to the behavior you ultimately wish to reinforce

Question 64

token economy | definition

Answer 64

systems set up for reinforcing appropriate behaviors + extinguishing inappropriate ones

Question 65

primary reinforcer in token economy

Answer 65

item/outcome that naturally increases the target behavior -biologically based -food, drink, sleep, etc.

Question 66

secondary reinforcer in token economy

Answer 66

neural object that becomes associated with a primary reinforcer -money, toys, flowers, etc.

Question 67

intermittent reinforcement | definition

Answer 67

when a behavior is reinforced occasionally rather than continuously

Question 68

are behaviors more enduring + difficult to extinguished when associated with continuous reinforcement or intermittent reinforcement?

Answer 68

intermittent reinforcement

Question 69

fixed-interval schedules FI

Answer 69

provide reinforcement for the first response after a specific interval of time has passed

Question 70

example of fixed-interval schedule

Answer 70

by-weekly paycheck

Question 71

variable-interval schedule VI

Answer 71

provide reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals

Question 72

example of variable-interval schedule

Answer 72

fishing

Question 73

fixed-ratio schedule FR

Answer 73

provide reinforcement after a specific # of responses

Question 74

example of fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 74

sales commission

Question 75

variable-ratio schedule VR

Answer 75

provide reinforcement after an unpredictable # of responses

Question 76

example of variable-ratio schedule

Answer 76

gambling

Question 77

biological influences on learning | name 3

Answer 77

preparedness instinctive drift conditioned taste aversions

Question 78

preparedness | definition

Answer 78

evolutionary predisposition to learn some pairings of feared stimuli over others owing to their survival value

Question 79

why do we fear certain things over overs?

Answer 79

preparedness

Question 80

instinctive drift | definition

Answer 80

the tendency for animals to return to innate behaviors following repeated reinforcement

Question 81

example of instinctive drift

Answer 81

-a pig was reinforced with food for dropping a large wooden disk into a piggy bank -it learned this task, but soon the pig began dropping the disk on the way to the piggy bank, pushing it through the dirt with its nose

Question 82

conditioned taste aversions | definition

Answer 82

refer to the fact that classical conditioning can lead us to develop avoidance reactions to the taste of food

Question 83

how many trials does it take in classical conditioning for conditioned taste aversions to develop?

Answer 83

only 1 trial rather than repeated pairings

Question 84

describe the delay between CS + USC in conditioned taste aversions

Answer 84

can be as long as 6-8 hours

Question 85

example of conditioned taste aversion

Answer 85

Kim eats noodles before chemotherapy, which frequently induces nausea/vomiting. As a result, he develops an aversion to noodles.

Question 86

S-O-R stimulus-organism-response | definition

Answer 86

emphasizes that the organism's response to a stimulus depends on what this stimulus means to it

Question 88

cognitive conditioning | definition

Answer 88

our interpretation of the situation affects conditioning -suggests that conditioning is far more than an automatic, mindless process -emphasizes the role of expectations in learning

Question 88

latent learning

Answer 88

learning that isn't directly observable -we may learn without showing

Question 88

what does S-O-R show?

Answer 88

cognition is central to explaining learning

Question 88

observational learning | definition

Answer 88

we learn by watching models

Question 88

insight learning | definition

Answer 88

"aha" moment -not out of trial + error

Question 89

learning fads

Answer 89

-sleep-assisted learning -accelerated learning -discovery learning -learning styles -etc.

Question 89

mirror neurons | definition

Answer 89

become active when we watch someone similar to us performing a behavior

Question 89

learning style | definition

Answer 89

an individual's optimal method of acquiring new informatio

Question 89

insight | definition

Answer 89

sudden understanding of the solution to a problem