Modules 26-28

Question 1

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information and behaviors

Answer 1

learning

Question 2

an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

Answer 2

habituation

Question 3

learning that certain events occur together. These events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequences

Answer 3

associative learning

Question 4

any event or situation that evokes a response

Answer 4

stimulus

Question 5

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

Answer 5

cognitive learning

Question 6

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Answer 6

classical conditioning

Question 7

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

Answer 7

behaviorism

Question 8

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Answer 8

neutral stimulus (NS)

Question 9

the classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 9

unconditioned response (UR)

Question 10

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers a response (UR)

Answer 10

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Question 11

in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)

Answer 11

conditioned response (CR)

Question 12

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)

Answer 12

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 13

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 behavior

Answer 13

acquisition

Question 14

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus

Answer 14

higher-order conditioning

Question 15

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

Answer 15

extinction

Question 16

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Answer 16

spontaneous recovery

Question 17

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Answer 17

generalization

Question 18

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Answer 18

discrimination

Question 19

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

Answer 19

operant conditioning

Question 20

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Answer 20

law of effect

Question 21

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking

Answer 21

operant chamber

Question 22

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Answer 22

reinforcement

Question 23

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavioral toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Answer 23

shaping

Question 24

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

Answer 24

discriminative stimulus

Question 25

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that when presented after a response, strengthens the response

Answer 25

positive reinforcement

Question 26

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response strengthens the response

Answer 26

negative reinforcement

Question 27

an innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need

Answer 27

primary reinforcer

Question 28

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; aka secondary reinforcer

Answer 28

conditioned reinforcer

Question 29

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Answer 29

reinforcement schedule

Question 30

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Answer 30

continuous reinforcement

Question 31

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement

Answer 31

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Question 32

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Answer 32

fixed-ratio schedule

Question 33

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Answer 33

variable-ratio schedule

Question 34

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Answer 34

fixed-interval schedule

Question 35

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Answer 35

variable-interval schedule

Question 36

a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension

Answer 36

biofeedback

Question 37

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Answer 37

respondent behavior

Question 38

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Answer 38

operant behavior