Unit 4b Learning

Question 1

Behavioral Perspective

Answer 1

Theory suggesting that behavior is learned and is shaped by observable, environmental factors.

Question 2

Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

Learning process that occurs when a neutral stimulus (e.g., a tone) becomes associated with a stimulus (e.g., food) that naturally produces a behavior (e.g., salivation).

Question 3

Association

Answer 3

Subject is conditioned to connect a stimuli with another stimuli, and this results in a specific behavior.

Question 4

Acquisition

Answer 4

Period of initial learning in classical conditioning in which a human or an animal begins to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus will begin to elicit the conditioned response.

Question 5

Associative Learning

Answer 5

Learning that two things occur together.

Question 6

Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer 6

A stimulus that unconditionally,naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Question 7

Unconditioned Response

Answer 7

Unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 8

Conditioned Stimulus

Answer 8

Neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Question 9

Conditioned Response

Answer 9

Learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus.

Question 10

Extinction

Answer 10

Gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing.

Question 11

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 11

When a learned behavior recovers from extinction after a rest period.

Question 12

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 12

Subject demonstrates the conditioned response only to the conditioned stimulus and not to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 13

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 13

Subject demonstrates a conditioned response to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Question 14

Higher-Order Conditioning

Answer 14

Conditioned stimulus becomes associated with a new unconditioned stimulus.

Question 15

Counterconditioning

Answer 15

Behavior modification technique in which a stimulus that creates a negative response is paired with something known to create a positive response.

Question 16

Taste Aversion

Answer 16

Avoidance of a certain food following a period of illness after consuming the food.

Question 17

One-Trial Conditioning

Answer 17

If a condition is powerful or extreme, something can be learned even if the individual is only exposed to the condition once.

Question 18

One-Trial Learning

Answer 18

Conditioning occurs after a single experience involving an intense stimulus (e.g., fear, pain, sickness).

Question 19

Biological Preparedness

Answer 19

Natural tendency of animals to learn certain associations (e.g., nausea, fear) with only one or few pairings due to the survival value of the learning.

Question 20

Habituation

Answer 20

Diminished effectiveness of a stimulus in causing a response following repeated exposure to the stimulus.

Question 21

Operant Conditioning

Answer 21

method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior

Question 22

Reinforcement

Answer 22

event or stimulus that strengthens the behavior it follows

Question 23

Punishment

Answer 23

event or stimulus that decreases the behavior it follows

Question 24

Law of Effect

Answer 24

Behaviors which have positive outcomes tend to be repeated.

Question 25

Superstitious Behavior

Answer 25

irrational behavior based on a false belief that a specific action can cause a particular outcome

Question 26

Learned Helplessness

Answer 26

tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past

Question 27

Primary Reinforcers

Answer 27

Stimulus that is innately reinforcing.

Question 27

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 27

desirable or pleasant stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely the behavior will reoccur

Question 28

Secondary Reinforcers

Answer 28

Stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer, such as giving a dog a treat (primary reinforcer) and also telling him "good boy" (secondary reinforcer)

Question 29

Reinforcement Discrimination

Answer 29

reinforcing a behavior in the presence of one stimulus but not others

Question 30

Reinforcement Generalization

Answer 30

behavior that has been reinforced in a specific context is also exhibited in similar contexts

Question 31

Shaping

Answer 31

reinforcement of successive steps that lead to a final desired behavior

Question 32

Instinctive Drift

Answer 32

tendency of some trained animals to revert back to instinctual behaviors

Question 33

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 33

stimulus that, when removed after a behavior, strengthens the behavior

Question 34

Reinforcement Schedules

Answer 34

rules that control when and how often reinforcement is given during operant conditioning.

Question 35

Continuous Reinforcement

Answer 35

reinforcing a desired response every time it occurs

Question 36

Partial Reinforcement

Answer 36

reinforcing a response only part of the time (results in slower acquisition but also greater resistance to extinction)

Question 37

Fixed Interval

Answer 37

reinforces a response only after a specified amount of time has elapsed

Question 38

Variable Interval

Answer 38

reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Question 39

Fixed Ratio

Answer 39

reinforces a response only after a specific number of responses

Question 40

Variable Ratio

Answer 40

reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Question 41

Scalloped Graph

Answer 41

pattern that appears on a cumulative response graph of a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule (shows that the subject only begins making a response as the time for the available reinforcements draws near)

Question 42

Social Learning Theory

Answer 42

suggests that social behavior is learned by observing and imitating the behavior of other

Question 43

Vicarious Conditioning

Answer 43

Learning through observing other people's responses to a stimulus (as opposed to personally experiencing the stimulus).

Question 44

Modeling

Answer 44

process through which children learn behaviors, skills, emotions, and ways of thinking by observing rather than through direct experience

Question 45

Insight Learning

Answer 45

form of problem solving in which there is a sudden realization of a solution

Question 46

Latent Learning

Answer 46

learning that occurs (often subconsciously) but is not used until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Question 47

Cognitive Maps

Answer 47

mental picture of the layout of the physical environment (making it easier to learn and recall things like directions and navigation)