chapter 8

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

A relatively permanent change in behaviour or the capacity for behaviour due to experience.

Question 2

instincts

Answer 2

An inborn pattern of behaviour elicited by environmental stimuli; also known as a fixed action pattern.

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

A type of learning in which associations are formed between two stimuli that occur sequentially in time.

Question 4

operant conditioning

Answer 4

A type of learning in which associations are formed between behaviours and their outcomes.

Question 5

habituation

Answer 5

A simple form of learning in which reactions to repeated stimuli that are unchanging and harmless decrease.

Question 6

sensitization

Answer 6

An increased reaction to many stimuli following exposure to one strong stimulus.

Question 7

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 7

A stimulus that elicits a response without prior experience.

Question 8

unconditioned response

Answer 8

A response to an unconditioned stimulus that requires no previous experience.

Question 9

conditioned response

Answer 9

A response learned through classical conditioning.

Question 10

conditioned stimulus

Answer 10

An environmental event whose significance is learned through classical conditioning.

Question 11

acquisition

Answer 11

The development of a learned response.

Question 12

extinction

Answer 12

The reduction of a learned response. In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) no longer follows the conditioned stimulus (CS). In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when the consequence no longer follows the learned behaviour.

Question 13

spontaneous recovery

Answer 13

During extinction training, the reappearance of conditioned responses (CRs) after periods of rest.

Question 14

generalization

Answer 14

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned stimulus (CS).

Question 15

discrimination

Answer 15

A learned ability to distinguish between stimuli.

Question 16

taste aversion

Answer 16

conditioned taste aversion because you’ve trained yourself to avoid the food even though it wasn’t related to your illness.

Question 17

biological preparedness

Answer 17

Biological preparedness is the idea that people and animals are inherently inclined to form associations between certain stimuli and responses.

Question 18

rescorla-wagner model

Answer 18

model of classical conditioning, in which learning is conceptualized in terms of associations between conditioned (CS) and unconditioned (US) stimuli. A strong CS-US association means that the CS signals predict the US.

Question 19

higher order conditioning

Answer 19

Learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus (CS) also elicit conditioned responses (CRs).

Question 20

latent inhibition

Answer 20

The slower learning that occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is already familiar compared to when the CS is unfamiliar.

Question 21

law of effect

Answer 21

“responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation

Question 22

positive reinforcement

Answer 22

the process of encouraging or establishing a pattern of behaviour by offering reward when the behaviour is exhibited:

Question 23

negative reinforcement

Answer 23

A method for increasing behaviours that allow an organism to escape or avoid an unpleasant consequence.

Question 24

positive punishment

Answer 24

A consequence that eliminates or reduces the frequency of a behaviour by applying an aversive stimulus.

Question 25

negative punishment

Answer 25

A method for reducing behaviour by removing something desirable whenever the target behaviour occurs.

Question 26

primary reinforcer

Answer 26

Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that have innate reinforcing qualities. These kinds of reinforcers are not learned.

Question 27

secondary reinforcer

Answer 27

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer.

Question 28

premack principle

Answer 28

theory of reinforcement that states that a less desired behavior can be reinforced by the opportunity to engage in a more desired behavior.

Question 29

shaping

Answer 29

Shaping in psychology is defined as a method of increasing a targeted behavior through reinforcement in a process of successive approximation

Question 30

partial reinforcement

Answer 30

The reinforcement of a desired behaviour on some occasions, but not others.

Question 31

fixed ratio schedule

Answer 31

A schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following a set number of behaviours.

Question 32

fixed interval schedule

Answer 32

A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a specified interval is reinforced.

Question 33

variable ratio schedule

Answer 33

A schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following some variable number of behaviours.

Question 34

variable interval schedule

Answer 34

A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a varying period is reinforced.

Question 35

biological constraints

Answer 35

resistant to evolutionary change

Question 36

instinctive drift

Answer 36

tendency of an animal to revert to unconscious and automatic behaviour that interferes with learned behaviour from operant conditioning.

Question 37

latent learning

Answer 37

Learning that occurs in the absence of reinforcement.

Question 38

observational learning

Answer 38

Learning that occurs when one organism watches the actions of another organism; also known as social learning or modelling.