Module 19: Basic Learning Concepts and Classical Conditioning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

The process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors.

Question 2

Associative learning

Answer 2

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response to its consequence (as in operant conditioning).

Question 3

Stimulus

Answer 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Question 4

Respondent behavior

Answer 4

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Question 5

Operant behavior

Answer 5

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence.

Question 6

Cognitive learning

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Classical conditioning

Answer 7

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food).

Question 8

Behaviorism

Answer 8

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Question 9

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 9

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Question 10

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 11

A stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers and unconditioned response (UR).

Question 12

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 12

A learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

Question 13

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 13

An originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).

Question 14

Pavlov’s classic experiment

Answer 14

Before conditioning
- US (food in mouth) produces UR (salivation)
- NS (tone) produces no salivation
During conditioning
- US presented repeatedly just after NS
- NS (tone) + US (food in mouth) produces UR (salivation)
After conditioning
- Previously neutral stimulus alone now produces a conditioned response
- Becomes conditioned stimulus (CS)
- CS (tone) produces CR (salivation)

Question 15

Acquisition

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Extinction

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 17

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.
- Reappearance of a weakened CR after a pause

Question 18

Generalization

Answer 18

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.
- In operant conditioning, generalization occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situations.

Question 19

Discrimination

Answer 19

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.
- In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced.

Question 20

Little Albert

Answer 20

• Experiment conducted by John B. Watson

- Could condition fear