Chapter 6 - Learning

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

an experience-driven and relatively permanent change in the state of the learner

Question 2

why do animals and humans learn?

Answer 2

because of habituation, sensitization, conditioning and observation

Question 3

habituation

Answer 3

repeated exposure to a stimulus leads to a gradual reduction in responding to that stimulus

Question 4

sensitization

Answer 4

exposure to a stimulus leads to an increased response

Question 5

non-associative learning

Answer 5

behavior toward a stimulus changes without any apparent associated stimulus or event

Question 6

classical conditioning (Pavlov)

Answer 6

some stimulus evokes a response because it was paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes that response

UR + US = UR
CS + US = UR
CS = CR

Question 7

acquisition

Answer 7

the phase during which the US is paired with the CS

Question 8

extinction

Answer 8

in case of extinction the CS is presented without the US

Question 9

spontaneous recovery

Answer 9

the sudden reappearance of a previously extinct conditioned response after the unconditioned stimulus has been removed for some time

Question 10

generalization

Answer 10

the CR evoked by the CS generalizes to stimuli that are similar to the CS

Question 11

discrimination training

Answer 11

two quite similar stimuli are presented, but only one is followed by and US. the participant can learn to discriminate between the two similar stimuli

Question 12

higher order conditioning

Answer 12

when a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a conditioned stimulus

Question 13

biological preparedness

Answer 13

a natural tendency to learn certain kinds of association over others

Question 14

contiguity

Answer 14

refers to how associated a reinforcer is with behavior. The higher the contiguity between events the greater the strength of the behavioral relationship

Question 15

blocking

Answer 15

blocking is the finding that after learning a stimulus-outcome relation for one stimulus, learning about a second stimulus is reduced when the second stimulus is always accompanied by the first stimulus

Question 16

operant conditioning (Skinner)

Answer 16

voluntary behavior is rewarded or punished: the consequences of an organism’s behavior determine whether it will be repeated in the future

Question 17

law of effect

Answer 17

a response that leads to a ‘satisfactory state of affairs’ is more likely to be repeated

Question 18

reinforcer

Answer 18

any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of behavior that leads to it

reinforcements are more effective than punishment

Question 19

punisher

Answer 19

any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of behavior that led to it

Question 20

when a stimulus is added…
when a stimulus is removed…

Answer 20

this is labeled as positive
this is labeled as negative

Question 21

over-justification effect

Answer 21

an expected external incentive decreases intrinsic motivation to perform a task

Question 22

motivational crowding out

Answer 22

the effect of offering a reward for certain behavior that previously unrewarded shifts of motivation towards reward.

Question 23

reinforcement schedules

Answer 23

if not every behavior is followed by a reinforcer, this is called intermittent or partial reinforcement

produces behavior that is more resistant against extinction

Question 24

ratio schedules

Answer 24

reinforcement based on the number of responses
- fixed ratio: reinforcement after n responses
- variable ratio: reinforcement after n responses on average

Question 25

interval schedules

Answer 25

reinforcement based on elapsed time interval
- fixed interval: reinforcement after n minutes
- variable interval: reinforcement after n minutes on average

Question 26

shaping through gradual/successive approximation

Answer 26

behavior that comes close to the desired behavior is rewarded, but the bar is gradually set higher and higher

Question 27

superstitious behavior

Answer 27

a reinforcer is attributed to non-causal accidental behavior

Question 28

neural underpinnings of reward

Answer 28

the nucleus accumbens, medial forebrain bundle, and hypothalamus are important brain structures that are active in behaviors that produce pleasure

Question 29

latent learning

Answer 29

something is learned but not manifested as behavioral change until some time in the future

Question 30

observational learning

Answer 30

learning takes place by watching the actions of others

Question 31

explicit learning

Answer 31

intentional learning of information while consciously looking for structure

Question 32

implicit learning

Answer 32

learning while being unaware of the rules or structure that are embedded in the information