Unit 6: Learning

Question 1

classical conditioning

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 2

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

dog experiment

Question 3

neutral stimulus

Answer 3

a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Question 4

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 4

a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response

Question 5

unconditioned response

Answer 5

an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus

Question 6

conditioned stimulus

Answer 6

an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

Question 7

conditioned response

Answer 7

a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

Question 8

acquisition

Answer 8

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned 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 9

higher-order conditioning

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

extinction

Answer 10

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 11

spontaneous recovery

Answer 11

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

Question 12

generalization

Answer 12

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

Question 13

discrimination

Answer 13

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

Question 14

John Watson

Answer 14

human emotions an behaviors are mainly a bundle of conditioned responses

Question 15

Little Albert Experiment

Answer 15

Associating fear of loud noises to white rats and other furry animals

Question 16

Operant conditioning

Answer 16

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

Question 17

B.F. Skinner

Answer 17

developed a behavioral technology that revealed principles of behavior control

Question 18

reinforcement

Answer 18

any even that strengthens the behavior it follows

Question 19

shaping

Answer 19

proceure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desire behavior

Question 20

positive reinforcement

Answer 20

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcer; any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

Question 21

negative reinforcement

Answer 21

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response

Question 22

primary reinforcer

Answer 22

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

Question 23

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 23

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

Question 24

continuous reinforcement

Answer 24

reinforcing the desire response every time it occurs

Question 25

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 25

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

Question 26

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 26

every so many; reinforcement after every nth behavior

Question 27

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 27

after an unpredictable number; reinforcement after a random number of behaviors

Question 28

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 28

every so often; reinforcement for behavior after a fixed time

Question 29

variable-interval schedule

Answer 29

unpredictably often; reinforcement for behavior after a random amount of time

Question 30

punishment

Answer 30

an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows

Question 31

positive punishment

Answer 31

administer an aversive stimulus ex: spray water on a barking dog

Question 32

negative punishment

Answer 32

withdraw a rewarding stimulus ex: take away a teen's driving privileges

Question 33

taste aversion

Answer 33

associating events with taste

Question 34

latent learning

Answer 34

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Question 35

insight

Answer 35

a sudden realization of a problem's solution

Question 36

intrinsic motivation

Answer 36

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Question 37

extrinsic motivation

Answer 37

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishmnet

Question 38

coping

Answer 38

alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods

Question 39

problem-focused coping

Answer 39

attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor of the way we interact with that stressor

Question 40

emotion-focused coping

Answer 40

attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs relate to one's stress reaction

Question 41

learned helplessness

Answer 41

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

Question 42

external locus of control

Answer 42

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate

Question 43

internal locus of control

Answer 43

the perception that you control your own fate

Question 44

self-control

Answer 44

the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards

Question 45

Bandura's bobo doll experiment

Answer 45

showing children adults attacking the bobo doll and them placing them in a room with the bobo doll to see how they treat the doll

Question 46

observational experiment

Answer 46

learning by observing others; also called social learning

Question 47

modeling

Answer 47

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Question 48

prosocial behavior

Answer 48

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior

Question 49

antisocial behavior

Answer 49

negative, aggressive behavior

Question 50

Learning

Answer 50

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Question 51

Law of effect

Answer 51

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

Question 52

Aversive conditioning

Answer 52

Type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nauseas) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)

Question 53

Extinction

Answer 53

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

Question 54

Reflex

Answer 54

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

Question 55

Cognitive map

Answer 55

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. Ex: after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

Question 56

Discriminative stimulus

Answer 56

A stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement