Chapter 6 - Learning and Behavior Terms and Concepts

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

Relatively enduring change in potential behavior and results from experience

Question 2

Associative Learning

Answer 2

Learning by making an association between two stimulus events (Pavlovian conditioning) or by learning an association between a response and its consequence (operant conditioning)

Question 3

Pavlovian Conditioning

Answer 3

This is learning that takes place when a neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with a stimulus (UCS) that already produces a response (UCR). After conditioning, the organism responds to the neutral stimulus (CS) in some way. The response to the CS is called a conditioned response (CR).

Question 4

Operant Conditioning

Answer 4

Learning an association between one’s behavior and its consequence (reinforcement or punishment)

Question 5

Template Learning

Answer 5

Learning that depends on a particular type of perceptual experience during a critical time in development (examples would include imprinting and language learning)

Question 6

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 6

In Pavlovian conditioning, a stimulus that elicits an unlearned response or reflex

Question 7

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Answer 7

In Pavlovian conditioning, an unlearned response or reflex caused by an unconditioned stimulus

Question 8

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

In Pavlovian conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response only after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus

Question 9

Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 9

In Pavlovian conditioning a learned response to a conditioned stimulus

Question 10

Acquisition

Answer 10

In Pavlovian conditioning, the process of learning to associate a conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus– In operant conditioning, the process of learning to associate responses with a reinforcer or punisher

Question 11

Delayed Conditioning

Answer 11

In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes place when the conditioned stimulus is presented just before the unconditioned stimulus is presented and continues until the organism begins responding to the unconditioned stimulus

Question 12

Simultaneous Conditioning

Answer 12

In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes place when the conditioned stimulus is presented at the same time as the unconditioned stimulus

Question 13

Trace Conditioning

Answer 13

In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes palce when presentation of the conditioned stimulus begins and ends before the unconditioned stimulus is presented

Question 14

Backward Conditioning

Answer 14

In Pavlovian conditioning presenting the unconditioned stimulus prior to the conditioned stimulus (backward conditioning results in little or no conditioning)

Question 15

Conditioned Taste Aversion

Answer 15

A learned aversion to a relatively novel taste or smell that occurs followed by illness or nausea

Question 16

Extinction

Answer 16

In Pavlovian conditioning, the process by which a conditioned response is eliminated through repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning the process of eliminating a response by discontinuing reinforcement for it.

Question 17

Reinstatement

Answer 17

In Pavlovian conditioning, the reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction has taken place

Question 18

Generalization

Answer 18

Proces by which an organism responds to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, without undergoing conditioning for each similar stimulus

Question 19

Discrimination

Answer 19

In Pavlovian & operant conditioning, the process by which responses are restricted to specific stimuli– In social psychology, the behavioral consequence of prejudice in which one group is treated differently from another group

Question 20

Second-Order Conditioning

Answer 20

A learned association between two conditioned stimuli (CS2-CS1) that can occur following conditioning to CS1 and an unconditioned stimulus (US)

Question 21

Law of Effect

Answer 21

Behavior followed by reinforcement will be strengthened while behavior followed by punishment will be weakened (theory originally proposed by Edward Thorndike that is the foundation of the operant conditioning theory)

Question 22

Cumulative Record

Answer 22

A chart recording of operant responses over time–time increment is indicated along the horizontal axis (as response rate increases the slope of the record increases)

Question 23

Discriminative Stimulus

Answer 23

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that controls a response by signaling the availability of reinforcement

Question 24

Reinforcement

Answer 24

In operant conditioning, any procedure where an event following a specific response increases the probability that the response will occur

Question 25

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 25

In operant conditioning, any stimulus presented after a response that increases the probability of the response

Question 26

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 26

In operant conditioning, any stimulus that increases the probability of a response through its removal

Question 27

Escape Conditioning

Answer 27

In operant conditioning, learning that takes place when an organism performs a response that will terminate an aversive stimulus

Question 28

Avoidance Conditioning

Answer 28

In operant conditioning, the learning of a response to a discriminative stimulus that allows an organism to avoid exposure to an aversive stimulus

Question 29

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 29

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that satisfies a biologically based drive or need (such as hunger, thirst or sleep)

Question 30

Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 30

A stimulus that takes on reinforcing properties after being associated with a primary reinforcer

Question 31

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Answer 31

In operant conditioning, the presentation of a reinforcer for each occurrence of a specific behavior

Question 32

Partial Reinforcement Schedule

Answer 32

In operant conditioning, a schedule that reinforces behavior only part of the time, for example, a ratio or interval schedule

Question 33

Partial Reinforcement Effect

Answer 33

Behaviors that are acquired on partial instead of continuous reinforcement schedules tend to be established more slowly, but are more persistent when no reinforcement is provided

Question 34

Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule

Answer 34

Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning wherein reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses

Question 35

Variable Ratio (VR) Schedule

Answer 35

Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where reinforcement is provided after an average of a specific number of responses occur

Question 36

Fixed Interval (FI) Schedule

Answer 36

Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning wherein reinforcement is provided for the first response after a specified period of time has elapsed

Question 37

Variable Interval (VI) Schedule

Answer 37

Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where opportunities for reinforcement occur at variable time intervals

Question 38

Shaping

Answer 38

In operant conditioning, a technique in which responses that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior are reinforced step by step, until the desired behavior occurs

Question 39

Modeling

Answer 39

Learning process wherein an individual acquires a behavior by observing someone else performing that behavior (also known as observational learning)

Question 40

Punishment

Answer 40

A procedure in which the presentation of a stimulus following a response leads to a decrease in the strength of frequency of the response

Question 41

Two-Factor Theory of Learning

Answer 41

A theory of avoidance learning that involves both pavlovian and operant conditioning

Question 42

Cognitive Learning Theory

Answer 42

Theoretical perspective that attempts to study the role of thinking and memory processes and learning

Question 43

Latent Learning

Answer 43

Learning that is not demonstrated by an immediately observable change in behavior

Question 44

Cognitive Map

Answer 44

Internal representation of the relationship between events or spatial elements

Question 45

Observational Learning

Answer 45

Learning process wherein an individual acquires a behavior by observing someone else performing that behavior (also known as modeling)

Question 46

Social Learning Theory

Answer 46

Theory that emphasizes the role of observation in learning

Question 47

Synaptic Facilitation

Answer 47

An increase in the size of a postsynaptic potential to a weak stimulus resulting from neuronal changes that underlie learning and memory

Question 48

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

Answer 48

An increase in a neuron’s sensitivity to fire following a burst of signals to that neuron’s dendrites