Chapter 6 Vocab

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience

Question 2

habituation

Answer 2

an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

Question 3

associative learning

Answer 3

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning). (p. 216)

Question 4

classical conditioning

Answer 4

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events. (p. 218)

Question 5

behaviorism

Answer 5

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). (pp. 6, 218)

Question 6

UR

Answer 6

in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth. (p. 219)

Question 7

US

Answer 7

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response. (p. 219)

Question 8

CR

Answer 8

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS). (p. 219)

Question 9

CS

Answer 9

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response. (p. 219)

Question 10

acquisition

Answer 10

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response. (p. 220)

Question 11

higher order conditioning

Answer 11

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone. (Also called second-order conditioning.) (p. 220)

Question 12

extinction

Answer 12

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced. (p. 221)

Question 13

spontaneous recovery

Answer 13

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. (p. 221)

Question 14

generalization

Answer 14

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (p. 222)

Question 15

discrimination

Answer 15

(1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus. (2) unjustifiable negativebehavior toward a group and its members. (pp. 222, 664)

Question 16

learned helplessness

Answer 16

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. (p. 223)

Question 17

respondent behavior

Answer 17

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus. (p. 228)

Question 18

operant conditioning

Answer 18

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. (p. 228)

Question 19

operant behavior

Answer 19

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences. (p. 228)

Question 20

law of effect

Answer 20

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely. (p. 229)

Question 21

operant chamber

Answer 21

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking. (p. 229)

Question 22

shaping

Answer 22

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. (p. 229)

Question 23

discriminative stimulus

Answer 23

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

Question 24

reinforcer

Answer 24

in operant conditioning, any event thatstrengthens the behavior it follows. (p. 230)

Question 25

positive reinforcement

Answer 25

increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presentedafter a response, strengthens the response. (p. 231)

Question 26

negative reinforcement

Answer 26

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.) (p. 231)

Question 27

primary reinforcer

Answer 27

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need. (p. 231)

Question 28

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 28

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer. (p. 231)

Question 29

continuous reinforcement

Answer 29

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. (p. 232)

Question 30

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 30

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement. (p. 232)

Question 31

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 31

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. (p. 232)

Question 32

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 32

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses. (p. 233)

Question 33

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 33

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed. (p. 233)

Question 34

variable-interval schedule

Answer 34

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. (p. 233)

Question 35

punishment

Answer 35

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. (p. 234)

Question 36

cognitive map

Answer 36

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it. (p. 236)

Question 37

latent learning

Answer 37

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. (p. 236)

Question 38

insight

Answer 38

a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem; it contrasts with strategy-based solutions. (pp. 236, 300)

Question 39

intrinsic motivation

Answer 39

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake. (p. 237)

Question 40

extrinsic motivation

Answer 40

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment. (p. 237)

Question 41

biofeedback

Answer 41

a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension. (pp. 240, C-8)

Question 42

observational learning

Answer 42

learning by observing others. Also called social learning. (p. 242)

Question 43

modeling

Answer 43

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. (p. 242)

Question 44

mirror neurons

Answer 44

frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy. (p. 243)

Question 45

prosocial behavior

Answer 45

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior. (p. 246)