Ch. 6 - Learning

Question 1

Acquisition

Answer 1

The formation of a new conditioned response tendency.

Question 2

Avoidance learning

Answer 2

Learning that has occurred when an organism engages in a response that prevents aversive stimulation from occurring.

Question 3

Behavior modification

Answer 3

A systematic approach to changing behavior through the application of the principles of conditioning.

Question 4

Behavioral contract

Answer 4

A written agreement outlining a promise to adhere to the contingencies of a behavior modification program.

Question 5

Classical conditioning

Answer 5

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

Question 6

Conditioned reinforcers

Answer 6

Stimulus events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers. See Secondary reinforcers.

Question 7

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 7

A learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning.

Question 8

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

A previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response.

Question 9

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 9

Reinforcing every instance of a designated response.

Question 10

Cumulative recorder

Answer 10

A graphic record of reinforcement and responding in a Skinner box as a function of time.

Question 11

Discriminative stimuli

Answer 11

Cues that influence operant behavior by indicating the probable consequences (reinforcement or nonreinforcement) of a response.

Question 12

Elicit

Answer 12

To draw out or bring forth.

Question 13

Emit

Answer 13

To send forth.

Question 14

Escape learning

Answer 14

A type of learning in which an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation.

Question 15

Evaluative conditioning

Answer 15

Efforts to transfer the emotion attached to a UCS to a new CS.

Question 16

Extinction

Answer 16

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency.

Question 17

Fixed-interval (FI) schedule

Answer 17

A reinforcement schedule in which the reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval has elapsed.

Question 18

Fixed-ratio (FR) schedule

Answer 18

A reinforcement schedule in which the reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses.

Question 19

Higher-order conditioning

Answer 19

A type of conditioning in which a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 20

Intermittent reinforcement

Answer 20

A reinforcement schedule in which a designated response is reinforced only some of the time.

Question 21

Latent learning

Answer 21

Learning that is not apparent from behavior when it first occurs.

Question 22

Learning

Answer 22

A relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience.

Question 23

Negative reinforcement

Answer 23

The strengthening of a response because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus.

Question 24

Observational learning

Answer 24

A type of learning that occurs when an organism’s responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models.

Question 25

Operant chamber

Answer 25

A small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is systematically recorded while the consequences of the response are controlled. See Skinner box.

Question 26

Operant conditioning

Answer 26

A form of learning in which voluntary responses come to be controlled by their consequences.

Question 27

Partial reinforcement

Answer 27

A reinforcement schedule in which a designated response is reinforced only some of the time. See Intermittent reinforcement.

Question 28

Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 28

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus. See Classical conditioning.

Question 29

Phobias

Answer 29

Irrational fears of specific objects or situations.

Question 30

Positive reinforcement

Answer 30

Reinforcement that occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus.

Question 31

Preparedness

Answer 31

Species-specific predispositions to be conditioned in certain ways and not others.

Question 32

Primary reinforcers

Answer 32

Events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs.

Question 33

Punishment

Answer 33

An event that follows a response that weakens or suppresses the tendency to make that response.

Question 34

Reinforcement

Answer 34

An event following a response that strengthens the tendency to make that response.

Question 35

Reinforcement contingencies

Answer 35

The circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcers.

Question 36

Renewal effect

Answer 36

Phenomenon that occurs if a response is extinguished in a different environment than it was acquired; the extinguished response will reappear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place.

Question 37

Resistance to extinction

Answer 37

In operant conditioning, the phenomenon that occurs when an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer for it has been terminated.

Question 38

Schedule of reinforcement

Answer 38

A specific presentation of reinforcers over time.

Question 39

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcers

Answer 39

Stimulus events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Question 40

Shaping

Answer 40

The reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response.

Question 41

Skinner box

Answer 41

A small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is systematically recorded while the consequences of the response are controlled.

Question 42

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 42

In classical conditioning, the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of nonexposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Question 43

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 43

The phenomenon that occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.

Question 44

Stimulus generalization

Answer 44

The phenomenon that occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.

Question 45

Trial

Answer 45

In classical conditioning, any presentation of a stimulus or pair of stimuli.

Question 46

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 46

An unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning.

Question 47

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 47

A stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning.

Question 48

Variable-interval (VI) schedule

Answer 48

A reinforcement schedule in which the reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed.

Question 49

Variable-ratio (VR) schedule

Answer 49

A reinforcement schedule in which the reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses.