Chapter 6: Learning

Question 1

Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer 1

a stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning

Question 2

Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

type of learning where stimuli acquires the ability to evoke a response

Question 3

Unconditioned Response

Answer 3

unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus without previous conditioning

Question 4

conditioned response

Answer 4

previously neutral stimulus that, through conditioning, can trigger responses

Question 5

Conditioned response

Answer 5

learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus because of previous conditioning

Question 6

trial

Answer 6

presentation of stimulus or pair of stimulus

Question 7

Acquisition

Answer 7

initial stages of learning, need stimulus contiguity (occurs at the same time and place), Intense, unusual stimuli have a higher chance of being a conditioned stimulus

Question 8

Extinction

Answer 8

weakening of conditioned response, caused by the presentation of a conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus

Question 9

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 9

the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of no exposure to a conditioned stimulus, the response is weaker when it returns,

Question 10

renewal effect

Answer 10

if the response is extinguished in a different environment than it was acquired, the extinguished response will reappear in the original environment where its acquisition happened

Question 11

stimulus generalization

Answer 11

occurs when an organism has learned a response to a specific stimulus and responds in the same way to a new similar stimulus. The more similar the stimuli the greater the generalization.

Question 12

stimulus discrimination

Answer 12

occurs when an organism that learned a response does not respond the same way to a new similar stimulus. Organisms will learn to discriminate an original stimulus from a similar stimulus with enough exposure to both. Developed from pairing a conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus, not an unconditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 13

higher-order conditioning

Answer 13

where a conditioned stimulus can function as if it were an unconditioned stimulus

Question 14

preparedness

Answer 14

a species-specific predisposition to be conditioned in certain ways and not others. preparedness results in phobias since they posed genuine threats to our ancestors.

Question 15

evolved module for fear learning

Answer 15

(1) preferentially activated by stimuli related to survival threats in evolutionary history,
(2) automatically activated by these stimuli,
(3) relatively resistant to conscious efforts to suppress the resulting fears, and
(4) dependent on neural circuitry running through the amygdala.

Question 16

Operant Conditioning

Answer 16

form of learning where a response is controlled by consequences, focuses on voluntary responses

Question 17

Law of Effect

Answer 17

if response is made in presence of stimuli and it leads to positive effects, association between stimulus and response made is strengthened

Question 18

reinforcement

Answer 18

when an event following a response increased the tendency to make the response again

Question 19

primary reinforcers

Answer 19

events that are inherently reinforced because they satisfy biological needs

Question 20

secondary/conditioned reinforcers

Answer 20

events that acquire reinforcing qualities being associated with primary reinforcers

Question 21

shaping

Answer 21

operant conditioning’s version of acquisition. Consists of reinforcement of closer and closer approximation of desired response.

Question 22

extinction

Answer 22

gradual decrease in appearance of a response tendency because response is no longer followed by reinforcement

Question 23

resistance to extinction

Answer 23

organism continues to make a response without reinforcement. renewal effect also applies to operant conditioning

Question 24

discriminative stimuli

Answer 24

cues that influence operant behaviour by indicating the probable consequences

Question 25

schedule of reinforcement

Answer 25

determines which occurrence of a specific response will result in the presentation of a reinforcer

Question 26

continuous reinforcement

Answer 26

occurs when every instance of desired response is reinforced

Question 27

Intermittent/Partial Reinforcement

Answer 27

Occurs when the desired response is reinforced sometimes, Makes Responses more resilient to extinction

Question 28

what are the 4 types of intermittent schedules

Answer 28

1) Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule
2) Fixed-Interval (FI) Schedule
3) Variable-Ration (VR) schedule
4) Variable-Interval (VI) Schedule

Question 29

Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule

Answer 29

Reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses

Question 30

Fixed-Interval (FI) Schedule

Answer 30

Reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval

Question 31

Variable-Ratio (VR) schedule

Answer 31

Reinforcer is given after varying number of nonreinforced responses

Question 32

Variable-Interval (VI) Schedule

Answer 32

Reinforcer is given for the first response after varying time interval

Question 33

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 33

Response strengthened because its followed by rewarding stimulus

Question 34

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 34

Response strengthened because its followed by removal of unpleasant stimulus

Question 35

Escape learning

Answer 35

Acquired response that decreased or ends unpleasant stimuli

Question 36

Avoidance learning

Answer 36

Acquired response that prevent unpleasant stimulation from occurring

Question 37

Punishment

Answer 37

Occurs when an event following a response weakens the tendency to make the response again. either by introducing an unpleasant stimulus or removal of rewarding stimuli. can produce unintended, undesirable side effects

Question 38

Latent Learning

Answer 38

Learning that is done but not shown until adequate motivation is presented

Question 39

Instinctive drift

Answer 39

Occurs when an animals response tendencies interfere with conditioning processes

Question 40

Observational Learning

Answer 40

when an organism’s responses are influenced by observations of others (models). both operant and conditional conditioning can take place through observational learning. If a model had a favourable outcome, the observer’s tendency to emit the same response is strengthened.

Question 41

key processes in observational learning

Answer 41

• Attention
Pay attention to another’s behaviour and its consequences
• Retention
Store models actions in memory, to call upon when needed
• Reproduction
Enacting modelled responses depends on the ability to take stored memory and make it into overt behaviour
• Motivation
Motivation to replicate actions depends on if you think it will work for you