Exam 2 -- chap 6

Question 1

behaviorism definition

Answer 1

perspective that viewed psychology as the study of humans via observable behavior

looks at how environment can have an effect on behavior

Question 2

what is learning?

Answer 2

a relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience

Question 3

what are the 3 types of learning?

Answer 3

classical conditioning

operant conditioning

observational learning

Question 4

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

learning by association

Question 5

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

learning by consequences

Question 6

what is observational learning?

Answer 6

primarily an extension of operant conditioning which also includes internal factors, such as imitation and expectation

Question 7

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 7

process of associating a previously neutral stimulus with a stimulus that elicits a response

the association process leads the neutral stimulus to elicit the same response

first systematically described by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov

Question 8

describe the process of classical conditioning:

Answer 8

beginw / neural stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is one that already brings about the target behavior (the unconditioned response – UCR)

neutral stimulus is the one that we want to condition to cause the target behavior

neutral stimulus is associated repeatedly w/ the UCS

this pairing has to take place closely in time

during these pairings, the UCS brings about the UCR

after a number of associations, you then present the neutral stimulus by itself, w/o the UCS

result should be that the neutral stimulus brings about the target behavior

neutral stimulus has now become a conditioned stimulus (CS) that elicits a conditional response (CR)

Question 9

classical conditioning – process – recap

Answer 9

start w/ neutral stimulus, which brings about no response; and unconditioned stimulus, which brings about target, currently unconditioned response

neutral stimulus repeatedly paired w/ UCS, which brings about UCR

remove UCS, present only neutral stimulus

neutral stimulus now brings about target response

neutral stimulus is now a conditioned stimulus (CS) which brings about a conditioned response (CR)

Question 10

describe stimulus generalization in terms of classical conditioning

Answer 10

sometimes stimuli similar to the CS will bring about the CR

Question 11

describe extinction in terms of classical conditioning

Answer 11

over time, if you do not periodically re-associate the CS w/ the UCS, the CS will cease to bring about the CR

Question 12

what is classical conditioning useful for/not useful for?

Answer 12

not useful for – learning complex behaviors

useful in basic-level learning

Question 13

describe Little Albert

Answer 13

baby that was classically conditioned to be afraid of soft, furry stuffed animals

paired white rate (neutral stimulus) w/ loud noise (UCS) that elicited fear (UCR)

white rate (CS) came to elicit fear (CR)

Question 14

operant conditioning (definition)

Answer 14

process by which the future likelihood of a behavior depends on the consequences of that behavior

Question 15

describe a reinforcer in operant conditioning:

Answer 15

anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior happening agin

Question 16

describe a punisher in operant conditioning:

Answer 16

anything that decreases the likelihood of a behavior happening again

Question 17

in operant conditioning, does a punisher have to be bad?

Answer 17

no – just needs to be something that decreases the likelihood of a behavior happening again

Question 18

what does positive reinforcement mean in operant conditioning?

Answer 18

addition of a stimulus to the environment

not inherently good or bad

Question 19

what does negative reinforcement mean in operant conditioning?

Answer 19

removal of a stimulus from the environment

not inherently good or bad

Question 20

what is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 20

addition of something to increase the future of a likelihood of a response.

ex. receiving a treat after going potty outside increases likelihood dog will go potty outside again

Question 21

what is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 21

removal of something to increase the likelihood of a future response.

ex. taking away privileges when chores not done w/ goal of increasing future chore completion

Question 22

what is positive punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 22

addition of something to decrease the future likelihood of a response

ex. giving candy to reduce bad behavior in the moment

–> but child will purposely be bad to get candy

Question 23

what is negative punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 23

removal of something to decrease the likelihood of a future response

ex. taking money via a fine in order to reduce future speeding

Question 24

the principles of ___ and ___ still apply to operant conditioning

Answer 24

stimulus generalization

extinction

Question 25

explain how stimulus generalization and extinction still apply to operant conditioning

Answer 25

stimulus generalization --> can generalize responses to similar punishers and reinforcers extinction --> behavior can become extinct w/o continued reinforcement

Question 26

schedules of reinforcement: effectiveness of reinforcement depends on...

Answer 26

how often it is applied

Question 27

ratio schedule

Answer 27

reward is given based on number of responses

Question 28

interval schedule

Answer 28

reward is given based on amount of time that has passed since last reward

Question 29

ratio and interval schedules can both be ___ or ___

Answer 29

fixed or variable

Question 30

describe fixed ratio

Answer 30

person drops off after he gets a reward, then goes back to work

Question 31

describe variable ratio

Answer 31

not as much of a drop off bc you don't know how much you have to do to get the next reward

Question 32

describe fixed interval

Answer 32

curve in each stage -- drop off in productivity right after reward, then increase as it gets closer to reward point

Question 33

describe variable interval

Answer 33

very flat productivity curve -- you're hoping to get rewarded at some point, but your work has very little to do w/ your reward

Question 34

what is best schedule of reinforcement?

Answer 34

fixed ratio is not always the best --> human beings don't like to have unpredictable income like commissioned sales

Question 35

which type of conditioning can be used to bring about more complex behaviors

Answer 35

operant

Question 36

describe shaping

Answer 36

you reward behaviors as they get incrementally closer to the complex target behavior ex. slowly rewarding a dog as its closer to shaking her paw ex. your dog generalizes doing an act to get a treat doing a similar act to get dinner

Question 37

when is punishment more likely to work?

Answer 37

immediately administered for child's protection administered consistently

Question 38

punishment is less likely to work when...

Answer 38

punishment doesn't immediately follow behavior child is unclear on what punishment is for punishment accidentally serves as a reinforcer (battle of wills) it provokes anger instead of behavior change it is used inconsistently

Question 39

observational learning

Answer 39

Bandura's social learning theory follows many principles of operant condition, but also includes roles for: observation and modeling of behavior, not just direct experience cognitive decision making based on expectations derived from seeing how others are treated, via vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment

Question 40

social learning theory

Answer 40

children can learn from watching: parents, peers, movies/TV can lead to increased violence following violent media