Chapter 8: Learning Key Terms

Question 1

Learning:

Answer 1

Enduring changes in behavior that occur with experience.

Question 2

Association:

Answer 2

A process by which two pieces of information from the environment are repeatedly linked, so that we begin to connect them in our minds.

Question 3

Conditioning:

Answer 3

A form of associative learning in which behaviors are triggered by associations with events in the environment.

Question 4

Classical conditioning:

Answer 4

A form of associative learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus to which one has an automatic, inborn response.

Question 5

Neutral stimulus:

Answer 5

An object or situation that when presented alone does not lead to an automatic (or unconditioned) response.

Question 6

Unconditioned response (UCR):

Answer 6

The natural, automatic, inborn, and involuntary reaction to a stimulus.

Question 7

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS):

Answer 7

The environmental input that always produces the same unlearned, involuntary response.

Question 8

Conditioned stimulus (CS):

Answer 8

A previously neutral input that an organism learns to associate with the UCS.

Question 9

Conditioned response (CR):

Answer 9

A behavior that an organism learns to perform when presented with the CS.

Question 10

Stimulus generalization:

Answer 10

Extension of the association between UCS and CS to include a broad array of similar stimuli.

Question 11

Stimulus discrimination:

Answer 11

The restriction of a CR (such as salivation) to only the exact CS to which it was conditioned.

Question 12

Extinction:

Answer 12

The weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response in the absence of reinforcement.

Question 13

Spontaneous recovery:

Answer 13

The sudden reappearance of an extinguished response.

Question 14

Law of effect:

Answer 14

The consequences of a behavior increase (or decrease) the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

Question 15

Operant conditioning:

Answer 15

The process of changing behavior by manipulating the consequences of that behavior.

Question 16

Reinforcer:

Answer 16

An internal or external event that increases the frequency of a behavior.

Question 17

Primary reinforcers:

Answer 17

Innate, unlearned reinforcers that satisfy biological needs (such as food, water, or sex).

Question 18

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcers:

Answer 18

Reinforcers that are learned by association, usually via classical conditioning (such as money, grades, and peer approval).

Question 19

Positive reinforcement:

Answer 19

The presentation or addition of a stimulus after a behavior occurs that increases how often that behavior will occur.

Question 20

Negative reinforcement:

Answer 20

The removal of a stimulus after a behavior to increase the frequency of that behavior.

Question 21

Punishment:

Answer 21

A stimulus that decreases the frequency of a behavior.

Question 22

Positive punishment:

Answer 22

The addition of a stimulus that decreases behavior.

Question 23

Negative punishment:

Answer 23

The removal of a stimulus to decrease behavior.

Question 24

Shaping:

Answer 24

The reinforcement of successive approximations of a desired behavior.

Question 25

Skinner box:

Answer 25

A simple chamber in which a small animal can move around, with a food dispenser and a response lever to trigger food delivery.

Question 26

Schedules of reinforcement:

Answer 26

Patterns of intermittent reinforcement distinguished by whether reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses or after a certain amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement.

Question 27

Continuous reinforcement:

Answer 27

Reinforcement of a behavior every time it occurs.

Question 28

Intermittent reinforcement:

Answer 28

Reinforcement of a behavior—but not after every response.

Question 29

Fixed-ratio (FR) schedule):

Answer 29

A pattern of intermittent reinforcement in which reinforcement follows a set number of responses.

Question 30

Variable-ratio (VR) schedule:

Answer 30

A pattern of intermittent reinforcement in which the number of responses needed for reinforcement changes.

Question 31

Fixed-interval (FI) schedule:

Answer 31

A pattern of intermittent reinforcement in which responses are always reinforced after a set period of time has passed.

Question 32

Variable-interval (VI) schedule:

Answer 32

A pattern of intermittent reinforcement in which responses are reinforced after time periods of different durations have passed.

Question 33

Conditioned taste aversion:

Answer 33

The learned avoidance of a particular taste or food.

Question 34

Latent learning:

Answer 34

Learning that occurs in the absence of reinforcement and is not demonstrated until later, when reinforcement occurs.

Question 35

Social learning theory:

Answer 35

The kind of learning that occurs when we model the behavior of others.

Question 36

Observational learning:

Answer 36

Learning influenced by watching the behavior of others.

Question 37

Modeling:

Answer 37

The imitation of behaviors performed by others. A kind of observational learning.

Question 38

Ethology:

Answer 38

The scientific study of animal behavior.

Question 39

Embodied cognition:

Answer 39

The thought processes involved in representing parts of the body and/or reenacting bodily actions in thought.