Chapter 4: Theories of Learning and Behavioral Modification

Question 1

Give an example of an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and UCR

Answer 1

5FU chemotherapy UCS
N & V UCR

Question 2

Give examples of CS and CR?

Answer 2

CS hospital
CR N & V

Question 3

What is operant condition?

Answer 3

learning occurs when a behavior is followed by an event

Question 4

Primary reinforcer?

Answer 4

key motivator for behavior;

often a physiological or psychological necessity

ex: food, water, sex

Question 5

Secondary reinforcer?

Answer 5

stimulus or situation that gains reinforcing power through link to primary reinforcer

(i.e money, tokens)

Question 6

What are the 2 types of reinforcers?

Answer 6

positive and negative reinforcer

Question 7

Positive reinforcer? (Example?)

Answer 7

a stimulus that, when applied, following an operant response, strengthens probability of that response occurring

e.g. an employee gets a bonus at work after completing a big project; that will be a positive incentive to perform well again

Question 8

Negative reinforcer?

Answer 8

stimulus that, when removed following an operant response, strengthens probability of that response occurring

e.g. a child cleans up his room (response/desired behavior) in order to stop the parent’s nagging (negative reinforcer)

Question 9

Punishment?

Answer 9

a stimulus that will decrease the probability of the response. Usu. uses an aversive stimulus to the individual. (you want to decrease the response)

Question 10

Extinction?

Answer 10

refers to disappearance of a response when no longer being reinforced

Question 11

Which type of reinforcement produces the greatest resistance to extinction?

Answer 11

variable ratio schedule

Question 12

Continuous reinforcement? (Is learning fast or slow?)

Answer 12

every response followed by a reinforcement (results in fast learning)

Question 13

What is intermittent (or partial) reinforcement?(compare learning and extinction)

Answer 13

not every response is reinforced (learning is slower and response harder to extinguish)

Question 14

Interval schedule types?

Answer 14

fixed interval and variable

Question 15

Ratio schedule types?

Answer 15

fixed ratio and variable ratio

Question 16

Fixed interval schedule

Answer 16

reinforces the response that occurs after a fixed period of time elapses

Question 17

Variable interval schedule? (also give an example)

Answer 17

Delivers reinforcement after unpredictable time periods elapse (surprise bonus you can get anytime)

Question 18

Fixed ratio schedule? (Give an example)

Answer 18

delivers reinforcement after a fixed number of responses (getting a bonus after every 3 projects completed.

Question 19

Variable ratio schedule? (Also give example)

Answer 19

delivers reinforcement after a changing number of responses (getting a bonus after completing undisclosed number of projects)

Question 20

Modeling?

Answer 20

learning occurs through observation

Question 21

Systematic desensitzation?

Answer 21

imagining oneself in a progression of fearful situations and using relaxation strategies that compete with anxiety

Question 22

Exposure?

Answer 22

treatment by forced exposure to the feared object

Question 23

Flooding?

Answer 23

or massive exposure, is where patients are exposed to a max intensity anxiety-producing situation. (if imagine called implosion)

Question 24

Aversive conditioning? (Also example of a drug causing this.)

Answer 24

occurs when a stimulus that produces undesired behavior is paired with an aversive stimulus (disulfuram)

Question 25

Shaping? (Also what is another name for it?)

Answer 25

(or successive approximations) achieves final target behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of desired response

Question 26

Stimulus control?

Answer 26

where a stimulus inadvertently acquire control over behavior (watching TV while eating)

Question 27

Biofeedback (also another name for it)

Answer 27

(neurofeedback) uses external feedback via instruments to provide usually unperceived biologic information subsequently used to modify internal physiologic states.

Question 28

Fading

Answer 28

gradually removing the reinforcement without the individual becoming aware of the difference

Question 29

Learned helplessness?

Answer 29

a state that occurs after a person has experienced a stressful situation repeatedly. They believe that they are unable to control or change the situation, so they do not try, even when opportunities for change are available.

(animal model of depression)

Question 30

Low rate of response-contingent reinforcement?

Answer 30

another explanation for depression. Person receives too little predictable positive reinforcement and may lack the social skills necessary to elicit this positive reinforcement
(ex. a man who feels he receives no positive reinforcement from his spouse can become depressed, even if he seems otherwise successful)