Chapter 7 Learning recognition

Question 1

the process of acquiring 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 consequences (as in operant conditioning).

Answer 2

associative learning

Question 3

any event or situation that evokes a response.

Answer 3

stimulus

Question 4

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

Answer 4

cognitive learning

Question 5

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

Answer 5

classical conditioning

Question 6

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 6

behaviorism

Question 7

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

Answer 7

neutral stimulus (NS)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

unconditioned response (UR)

Question 9

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

Answer 9

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Question 10

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

Answer 10

conditioned response (CR)

Question 11

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

Answer 11

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 12

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 12

acquisition

Question 13

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neural 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 that tone and begin responding to the light alone. (Also called second-order conditioning)

Answer 13

Higher-order conditioning

Question 14

the diminishing of a conditioned 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.

Answer 14

extinction

Question 15

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

Answer 15

spontaneous recovery

Question 16

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Answer 16

discrimination

Question 17

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

Answer 17

operant conditioning

Question 18

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

Answer 18

law of effect

Question 19

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 picking

Answer 19

operant chamber

Question 20

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

Answer 20

reinforcement

Question 21

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

Answer 21

shaping

Question 22

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

Answer 22

positive reinforcement

Question 23

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after response, strengthens the response (not a punishment).

Answer 23

negative reinforcement

Question 24

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

Answer 24

primary reinforcer

Question 25

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as secondary reinforcer.

Answer 25

conditioned reinforcer

Question 26

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

Answer 26

reinforcement schedule

Question 27

Reinforcing the the desired response every time it occurs.

Answer 27

continuous reinforcement

Question 28

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

Answer 28

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Fixed-ratio schedule

Question 30

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after an unpredictable number of responses

Answer 30

Variable-ratio schedule

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Fixed-interval schedule

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Variable-interval schedule

Question 33

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Answer 33

respondent behavior

Question 34

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Answer 34

operant behavior

Question 35

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map out of it.

Answer 35

cognitive map

Question 36

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Answer 36

latent learning

Question 37

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.

Answer 37

intrinsic motivation

Question 38

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.

Answer 38

extrinsic motivation

Question 39

learning by observing others.

Answer 39

observational learning

Question 40

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Answer 40

modeling

Question 41

frontal lobe neurons that some scientist believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy.

Answer 41

mirror neurons

Question 42

an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows.

Answer 42

punishment

Question 43

positive constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial.

Answer 43

prosocial behavior