Chapter 6

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

Process by which behaviour or knowledge changes as a result of experience.

-Classical conditioning (learning by associations)
-Operant conditioning (learning through consequences)
-Cognitive and observational learning

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

What form of associative learning in which an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus (a sound) with a biologically relevant stimulus (food) which results in a change in the response to the previously neutral stimulus (salivation)

Question 3

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 3

Produces a reflexive response without prior learning required
Ex) food, pain

Question 4

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 4

Reflexive, unlearned reaction to an unconditional stimulus
Ex) salivating, arousal

Question 5

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 5

Does not automatically produce reflexive response, but doesn’t prevent a particular response either
Ex) a sound 

Question 6

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 6

A once-neutral stimulus that now produces a conditioned response because it has a history of being paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 7

Conditioned responce (CR)

Answer 7

Newly learned response to the condition stimulus

Question 8

Acquisition

Answer 8

Initial phase of learning in which a response is established
Ex) metronome repeatedly paired with food

Question 9

Extinction (CC)

Answer 9

Reduction of a condition response when a condition stimulus and unconditions stimulus are no longer paired

Question 10

Stimulus generalization (CC)

Answer 10

A response that originally occurred for a specific stimulus also occurs for a different (but similar)stimulus

Question 11

Stimulus discrimination (CC)

Answer 11

An organism learns to respond to one original condition stimulus, but not to new stimuli that may be similar

Question 12

Conditioned emotional responses

Answer 12

Emotional and physiological responses that develop to a specific object or situation
Ex) little Albert 

Question 13

Preparedness

Answer 13

The biological predisposition to quickly learn a response to a particular type of stimuli.
Involves fear and threatening stimuli.

Question 14

Conditioned taste aversion 

Answer 14

Acquired dislike or discussed for a food or drink because it was paired with illness

Question 15

Operant conditioning

Answer 15

A type of learning in which behaviour is influenced by consequences. Involves voluntary actions and the resulting consequences.

Question 16

Contingency

Answer 16

A consequence depends on an action (reinforcement or punishment)

Question 17

Reinforcement

Answer 17

An event or reward that follows a response increases the likelihood of that response occurring again
(Reinforcer)

Question 18

Punishment

Answer 18

Decreases the future probability of a response
(Punisher)

Question 19

Positive reinforcement

Answer 19

Strengthens our behaviour after potential reinforcers (such as money, praise) follow that behaviour.

Question 20

Negative reinforcement

Answer 20

Strengthens a behaviour by removing or decreasing a stimulus

Question 21

Positive punishment

Answer 21

A behaviour decreases in frequency because it was followed by particular, usually unpleasant, consequence
Ex) stopped cheating on exams

Question 22

Negative punishment

Answer 22

Behaviour decreases because doing so removed or diminishes a particular unwanted consequence
Ex) stopping because something was threatened to be taken away

Question 23

Primary reinforcer

Answer 23

Reinforcing stimuli that satisfied basic motivational needs that affect an individual’s ability to survive.
Ex) food, water, shelter 

Question 24

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 24

Stimuli that become reinforcers only after we learned that they have value
ex) money

Question 25

Nucleus accumbens

Answer 25

Becomes activated when processing any kind of reward, has lots of dopamine receptors.

Question 26

Discriminative stimulus (OC)

Answer 26

A cue that indicates a response (if made) will be reinforced. Ex) lights on = trick or treat

Question 27

Discrimination (OC)

Answer 27

An organism learns to respond to one original discriminative stimulus, but not to a new stimuli that may be similar to the original stimulus. Ex) trick or treating on Nov 1st

Question 28

Generalization (OC)

Answer 28

And operant response occurs in response to the new stimulus that is similar to the stimulus present in original learning. Ex) determining that houses with lights on will give candy 

Question 29

Extinction (OC)

Answer 29

Weakening of an operant response when reinforcement is no longer available

Question 30

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 30

Every response made is reinforced

Question 31

Partial reinforcement

Answer 31

Only some responses are reinforced, or reinforcement occurs after certain amount of time passes (4 types)

Question 32

Fixed-ratio

Answer 32

Reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses has been completed

Question 33

Variable-ratio

Answer 33

Number of responses required to receive reinforcement varies according to an average

Question 34

Fixed-interval

Answer 34

Reinforces the first response occurring after a set amount of time passes

Question 35

Variable-interval

Answer 35

First response is reinforced following a variable amount of time

Question 36

Partial reinforcement effect

Answer 36

Organisms that have been conditioned under partial reinforcement resist extinction longer than those conditioned under continuous reinforcement

Question 37

Latent learning

Answer 37

Learning that is not immediately expressed by a response until the organism is reinforce for doing so

Question 38

Observational learning

Answer 38

Changes in behaviour knowledge that result from watching others

Question 39

Mirror neurons

Answer 39

Become active when performing an action and when observing others perform that action.