Learning

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

a relatively permanent chance in performance potential that arises from experience

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

a type of learning response; a neutral object comes to elicit a response when it is associated with a stimulus that already produces that response

Question 3

unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 3

a response that does not have to be learned, such as a reflex

Question 4

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 4

a stimulus that elicits a response, such as a reflex, without an prior learning

Question 5

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 5

a stimulus that elicits a response only after learning has taken palce

Question 6

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 6

a response to a conditioned stimulus, a response that has been learned

Question 7

acquistion

Answer 7

the gradual formation of an association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli

Question 8

extinction

Answer 8

a process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is repeated without the conditioned stimulus

Question 9

contiguity

Answer 9

the critical element in acquisition of a learned association; stimuli occur together in time

Question 10

spontaneous recovery

Answer 10

a process in which a previously extinguished response reemerges after the presentation of the conditioned stimulus

Question 11

stimulus generalization

Answer 11

learning that occurs when stimuli are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus produce the conditioned response

Question 12

stimulus discrimination

Answer 12

a differentiation between two similar stimuli when only one of them is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimuli

Question 13

second-order conditioning

Answer 13

when a conditioned stimulus becomes associated with other stimuli associated with the unconditioned stimulus

Question 14

phobia

Answer 14

an acquired fear that is out of proportion tot he real threat of an object of a situation

Question 15

Little Albert Study

Answer 15

study that demonstrated the role of classical conditioning in the development of phobias, conducted by John B. Watson. Watson paired a small rat (CS) and a loud noise (US) until eventually just the CS produced fear in little albert

Question 16

systematic desensitization

Answer 16

behavioral therapist Joseph Wolpe developed a formal treatment based on counter-conditioning

Question 17

conditioned food aversion

Answer 17

the association between eating a novel food and getting sick, even when the illness occurs hours after eating is so strong that food aversion can formed in one trial

Question 18

biological preparedness

Answer 18

the theory that some animals are genetically programmed to fear certain objects that are potentially dangerous

Question 19

Rescorla-Wagner model

Answer 19

a cognitive model of classical conditioning; it states that the strength of the CS_US association is determined by the extent tow which the unconditioned stimulus is unexpected or surprising

Question 20

instrumental (operant) conditioning

Answer 20

a learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that it will be performed in the future

Question 21

puzzle box

Answer 21

a small cage with a trapdoor that would open if the animal inside performs a specific action

Question 22

law of effect

Answer 22

Thondikes’ general theory of learning; Any behavior that leads to a “Satisfying state of affiars” is likely to occur again and any behavior that leads to an “annoying” state of affairs is less likely to occur again

Question 23

reinforcer

Answer 23

a stimulus that follows a response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated

Question 24

operant chamber

Answer 24

a small chamber with one level connected to a food supply and a second level connected to a water supply. the chamber assesses how quickly the animal learns to use the levers to receive food

Question 25

positive punishment

Answer 25

the administration of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior's recurring

Question 26

negative punishment

Answer 26

the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior's recurring

Question 27

positive reinforcement

Answer 27

the administration of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior's being repeated

Question 28

negative reinformcement

Answer 28

the removal of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior's being repeated

Question 29

shaping

Answer 29

reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior

Question 30

primary reinforcers

Answer 30

reinforcers necessary for survival like food or water

Question 31

secondary reinforcers

Answer 31

events or objects that serve as reinforcers but do not actually satisfy biological needs

Question 32

Premack principle

Answer 32

a more valued activity can be used to reinforce the performance of a less valued activity

Question 33

continuous reinforcement

Answer 33

a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced each time it occurs

Question 34

partial reinforcement

Answer 34

a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced intermittently

Question 35

ratio schedule

Answer 35

a schedule in which reinforcement is based on the number of times the behavior occurs

Question 36

interval schedule

Answer 36

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a specific unit of time

Question 37

fixed schedule

Answer 37

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a specific number of occurrences on or after a specific amount of time

Question 38

variable scedule

Answer 38

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided at different rates or at different times

Question 39

partial-reinforcement extinction effect

Answer 39

the greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement

Question 40

behavior modification

Answer 40

the use of operant conditioning techniques to eliminate unwanted behavior and replace them with desirable ones

Question 41

cognitive map

Answer 41

a visual/spatial mental representation of an environment

Question 42

latent learning

Answer 42

learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement

Question 43

insight learning

Answer 43

a solution suddenly emerges after either a period of inaction or contemplation of a problem

Question 44

meme

Answer 44

a unit of knowledge transmitted within a culture

Question 45

observational learning

Answer 45

the acquisition or modification of a behavior after exposure to at least one performance of that behavior

Question 46

Bandura's BoBo Doll Study

Answer 46

Bandura shows the influence of observational learning when children who saw adults aggressively play with a doll acted in a similarly agreessive way during their turn

Question 46

Modeling

Answer 46

The imitation of observed behavior

Question 47

Vicarious learning

Answer 47

Learning the consequences of an action by watching others being rewarded or punished for performing the action

Question 48

mirror neurons

Answer 48

neurons that are activated when one observes another individual engage in an action and when one performs the action that was observed

Question 49

latent learning

Answer 49

learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement

Question 50

Tolman's Study of Latent Learning

Answer 50

Rats that were regularly reinforced for correctly running through a maze showed improved performance oner time compared with rather that did not receive reinforcement.

Question 51

habituation

Answer 51

a decrease in behavior response after repeated exposure to a nonthreatening stimulus

Question 52

sensitization

Answer 52

an increase in behavioral response after exposure to a threatening stimulus

Question 53

long term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 53

the strengthening of a synaptic connection, making the postsynaptic neurons more easily activiated