Behavioral Science Chapter 3- Learning and Memory

Question 1

Refers to specifically to the way in which we acquire new behaviors.

Answer 1

Learning

Question 2

Can be defined as anything to which an organism can respond.

Answer 2

Stimulus

Question 3

Repeated exposure to the same stimulus can cause a decrease in response called:

Answer 3

Habituation

Question 4

A stimulus too weak to elicit a response is called:

Answer 4

Subthreshold stimulus

Question 5

Defined as the recovery of a response to a stimulus after habituation has occurred.

Answer 5

Dishabituation

Question 6

The creation of a pairing, or association, either between two stimuli or between a behavior and a response. There are two types.

Answer 6

Associative Learning

Question 7

A type of associative learning that takes advantage of biological, instinctual responses to create associations between two unrelated stimuli.

Answer 7

Classical Conditioning

Question 8

Example: Salivating over smelling baked bread in the oven. Any stimulus that brings about such a response is called:

Answer 8

Unconditioned Stimulus

Question 9

An innate or reflexive response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Answer 9

Unconditioned Response

Question 10

Many stimuli do not produce a reflexive response and are called:

Answer 10

Neutral Stimuli

Question 11

The new term that Pavlov gave to a neutral stimulus. A normally neutral stimulus that, through association, now causes a reflexive response.

Answer 11

Conditioned Stimulus

Question 12

The reflexive response that arises from a conditioned stimulus.

Answer 12

Conditioned Response

Question 13

The process of using a reflexive, unconditioned stimulus to turn a neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus.

Answer 13

Acquisition

Question 14

Refers to the loss of a conditioned response, and can occur if the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Answer 14

Extinction

Question 15

An extinction response will not always be permanent; an extinct conditioned stimulus will sometimes produce a weak conditioned response, a phenomenon called:

Answer 15

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 16

A broadening effect by which a stimulus similar enough to the conditioned stimulus can also produce the conditioned response.

Answer 16

Generalization

Question 17

An organism learns to distinguish between similar stimuli. The opposite of generalization.

Answer 17

Stimuli Discrimination (sometimes just “Discrimination”)

Question 18

The study examines the ways in which the consequences of voluntary behaviors change the frequency of those behaviors.

Answer 18

Operant Conditioning

Question 19

The theory that all behaviors are conditioned.

Answer 19

Behaviorism

Question 20

Behaviors such as foraging and approach behaviors that are modified over time as the animal interacts with various stimuli and adjusts its behaviors accordingly.

Answer 20

Reward-Seeking Behaviors

Question 21

The process of increasing the likelihood that an animal will perform a behavior. Divided into two categories.

Answer 21

Reinforcement

Question 22

A division of Reinforcement. Increasing the frequency of a behavior by adding a positive consequence or incentive following the desired behavior.

Answer 22

Positive Reinforcement

Question 23

A division of Reinforcement. Increases the frequency of the behavior, but they do so by removing something unpleasant.

Answer 23

Negative Reinforcement

Question 24

Describes a situation where the animal experiences an unpleasant stimulus and, in response, displays the desired behavior in order to trigger the removal of the stimulus.

Answer 24

Escape Learning

Question 25

Occurs when the animal displays the desired behavior in anticipation of the unpleasant stimulus, thereby avoiding the unpleasant stimulus.

Answer 25

Avoidance Learning

Question 26

Example: A fish is a treat that a dolphin responds to naturally, therefore the fish is a ______ reinforcer.

Answer 26

Primary Reinforcer

Question 27

Example: Trainers pair the fish with the clicker to elicit the same response. The clicker is a _____ reinforcer.

Answer 27

Conditioned Reinforcer (Secondary Reinforcer)

Question 28

A stimulus that indicates that reward is potentially available in the operant conditioning paradigm.

Answer 28

Discriminative Stimulus

Question 29

Uses conditioning to reduce the occurrence of a behavior.

Answer 29

Punishment

Question 30

Adds an unpleasant consequence in response to a behavior to reduce that behavior.

Answer 30

Positive Punishment

Question 31

Positive punishment involves using something unpleasant to discourage behavior, it is sometimes referred to as:

Answer 31

Aversive Conditioning

Question 32

Removing a stimulus in order to cause a reduction of behavior.

Answer 32

Negative Punishment

Question 33

The rate at which desired behaviors are acquired is also affected by the ______ being used to deliver stimuli.

Answer 33

Reinforcement Schedule

Question 34

A schedule to reinforce a behavior after a specific number of performances of that behavior.

Answer 34

Fixed-Rate (FR) Schedules

Question 35

Is a fixed-ratio schedule in which the behavior is rewarded every time it is performed.

Answer 35

Continuous Reinforcement

Question 36

A schedule to reinforce a behavior after a varying number of performances of the behavior, such that the average number of performances to receive a reward is relatively constant.

Answer 36

Variable-ratio (VR) Schedules

Question 37

A schedule to reinforce the first instance of a behavior after a specified time period has elapsed.

Answer 37

Fixed-interval (FI) Schedules

Question 38

A schedule to reinforce a behavior the first time that behavior is performed after a varying interval of time.

Answer 38

Variable-interval (VI) Schedules