Chapter 3 Flashcards
Define unconditioned reflex. Give tow examples of an unconditioned reflex.
An unconditioned reflex is a stimulus-response sequence in which a stimulus elicits a response without prior learning or conditioning.
Example: When a soccer ball comes flying at your face the unconditioned reflex is blinking.
Example: When a baseball player is doing his warm-up jog around the field, the unconditioned reflex is he starts to sweat.
Define conditioned reflex, and describe an example of a conditioned reflex illustrated in the case of Susan, the figure skater at the beginning of chapter 3.
A conditioned reflex is a stimulus-response sequence in which a stimulus elicits a response because the stimulus was paired with a different stimulus that elicited that response. The conditioned reflex in the case of Susan was the fer that was paired with the take off position of the difficult jump.
What are two other names for respondent conditioning?
Classical conditioning and Pavlovian conditioning.
State the procedure and result of respondent conditioning
The procedure of respondent conditioning is the pairing of a neutral stimulus (NS) with an unconditioned stimulus (US) which elicits a unconditioned response (UR). The result is that the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) which elicits a conditioned response (CR).
Describe the dails of how Susan, the figure skater, was helped to overcome her fear of attempting the double axel jump in chapter 3.
The bad falls that Susan experienced while approaching the take off position for her double-axel jump established approaching the take off position as a CS that caused feelings of fear as a CR. At the next practice, when Susan was getting ready to practice her double-axel, I called her over to the side of the rink and asked her to practice a deep breathing exercise for several breaths, each time telling herself to “r-e-l-a-x” while exhaling. Susan was then prompted to skate around and approach the takeoff position for the double axel, and just before getting to the place where she would normally initiate the jump, to do a deep breath, and tell herself to relax on the exhale, but not to attempt the jump. Susan did that five times, which established approaching the takeoff position as a CS for the CR of feeling relaxed. Because feeling relaxed is incompatible with feeling fear, approaching the takeoff position for the double axel lost the ability to elicit the CR of fear.
In respondent conditioning, what does each of the following stand for, NS, US, UR, CS, CR?
NS – neutral stimulus
US – unconditioned stimulus UR – unconditioned response CS – conditioned stimulus
CR – conditioned response
In a sentence each, briefly state the 5 variables that influence development in conditioned reflex.
- The greater the number of parings of a CS with a US, the greater the ability of the CS to elicit the CR, until the maximum strength of the conditioned reflex has been reached.
- Stronger conditioning occurs if the CS precedes the US by just a second, rather than by a longer time, or rather than by following the US.
- A CS acquires greater ability to elicit a CR if the CS is always paired with a given US, than if it is only occasionally paired with the US.
- When several neutral stimuli precede a US, the stimulus that is most consistently associated with the US is the one most likely to become a strong CS.
- Respondent conditioning will develop more quickly and strongly when the CS or US or both are intense, rather than weak.
Describe the procedure and result of positive reinforcement.
The procedure of positive reinforcement includes the presentation of a reinforcer immediately after a behavior, and a result that the behavior is strengthened.
Define conditioned reinforcer. Describe two sport examples of conditioned reinforcers that are not in this chapter.
A conditioned reinforcer reinforces stimuli that were not originally reinforced and need reinforcing value through appropriate pairings with other reinforcers. One example of a conditioned reinforcer is when a hockey player scores a “hatty” in a game. Another example is when a badminton player fakes a smash and played a drop shot and got the point.
