Behavioral Psychology CH. 12

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

Is change through experience or practice and ranges from very simple to very complex.

Question 2

Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

Based on learning associations between stimuli or events that were not previously associated and involves quite simple, rather primitive reactions.

Question 3

Reinforcement

Answer 3

Something that is rewarding to the organism and will therefore have an effect on what it does. Shapes the behavior in a positive direction. Is crucial to both classical and instrumental conditioning. When reinforcement does not occur, the result is extinction.

Question 4

Extinction

Answer 4

A gradual reduction or fading away of the learned response. Also, refers to the absence of reward or reinforcement where reward has previously been experienced. Example: time out.

Question 5

Classical Conditioning Generalization

Answer 5

It occurs in the presence or stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.

Question 6

Instrumental Conditioning

Answer 6

Involves the gradual shaping of behavior from the simple to the more complex. Every day behaviors.

Question 7

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 7

Leads to a strengthening of behavior, an increased likelihood that it will occur.

Question 8

Punishment

Answer 8

Reduces the strength or likelihood of a response, and extinction and generalization occur in instrumental conditioning, as in classical conditioning.

Question 9

Partial or occasional reinforcement

Answer 9

Leads to a much stronger learned response than continuous reinforcement.

Question 10

Behavior Modification

Answer 10

The application of the principles of conditioning to real-life problems in order to change people’s behavior.

Question 11

Self-Control

Answer 11

Is the ultimate aim of behavior modification. Hints at volition, inner direction, willpower and certainly a conscious awareness of what is happening.

Question 12

Prior beliefs

Answer 12

If one is learning new material, then one will almost certainly have some prior beliefs about some of that material, beliefs, for example, that some things are naturally associated.

Question 13

Feedback

Answer 13

If a person is attempting to learn something, then the learning occurs more effectively if, from time to time, he or she is given feedback on how they are doing.

Question 14

Massing

Answer 14

study in mass or learn all at once.

Question 15

Distributing

Answer 15

study with intermittent breaks or learn something in pieces.

Question 16

Meaningfulness

Answer 16

The more meaningful the material to be learned, the more readily it is learned.

Question 17

Satiation

Answer 17

too much of a reward. Creates a distaste or resilience to the reward. The reward is no longer a reinforcement or changes behavior.

Question 18

Disadvantages to Punishment

Answer 18

• Punishment suggests nothing positive; it merely says ‘don’t do this’ rather than suggesting what to do.
• Punishment may well lead a person to withdraw from the situation entirely, if this is possible, and may also lead to other negative emotional reactions.
• Sometimes, something that looks punishing might, in fact, be rewarding

Question 19

Punishment in behavioral control

Answer 19

• Positive reinforcement is more effective if it can be used.
• When using punishment, it is best to combine it with positive reinforcement.
• It is possible to use mild punishment almost informatively, to let someone know that they might be on the wrong track, rather than heavily, a frown rather than a slap to a child, for example.
• If punishment is used, it should be associated quickly and obviously with what is thought to be the inappropriate behavior, and with nothing else.
• It is important to administer punishment instantly.

Question 20

Shape behavior

Answer 20

To reinforce approximations to the behavior.

Question 21

Reinforcer effectiveness

Answer 21

qualities of the reinforcement.

Question 22

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 22

human or physiological need.

Question 23

Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 23

Not a need.

Question 24

Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 24

Reinforcer that takes on the properties of a primary reinforcer.

Question 25

Principle of immediacy

Answer 25

Must be done right away.

Question 26

Principle of deprivation

Answer 26

the more deprived the person or animal is of the reinforcer the more it will want the reinforcer.