Chapter 7

Question 1

The process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Answer 1

Learning

Question 2

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and it’s consequence (as in operant conditioning)

Answer 2

Associative Learning

Question 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Answer 3

Stimulus

Question 4

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Answer 4

Respondent Behavior

Question 5

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence

Answer 5

Operant Behaviors

Question 6

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Answer 6

Cognitive Learning

Question 7

A form of cognitive learning that lets up learn from others’ experiences

Answer 7

Cognitive Learning

Question 8

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, the first stimulus comes to elicit behavior in anticipation of the second stimulus

Answer 8

Classical Conditioning

Question 9

The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Answer 9

Behaviorism

Question 10

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Answer 10

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Question 11

In classical conditioning, an unlearned naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 11

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Question 12

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers an unconditioned response

Answer 12

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Question 13

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

Answer 13

Conditioned Response (CS)

Question 14

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US) comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)

Answer 14

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Question 15

In classical conditioning, the initial stage—when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the NS begins triggering the conditioned response.

Answer 15

Aquisition

Question 16

In classical conditioning, the diminishing of a conditioned response—when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus.

Answer 16

Extinction

Question 17

The reappearance, after a pause, of a weakened conditioned response

Answer 17

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 18

In classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Answer 18

Generalization (Stimulus Generalization)

Question 19

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus; in operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced.

Answer 19

Discrimination

Question 20

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher

Answer 20

Operant Conditioning

Question 21

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Answer 21

Law of Effect

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Operant Chamber

Question 23

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Answer 23

Reinforcement

Question 24

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Answer 24

Shaping

Question 25

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus

Answer 25

Positive Reinforcement

Question 26

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus

Answer 26

Negative Reinforcement

Question 27

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Answer 27

Primary Reinforcers

Question 28

Astimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer. (Also known as a secondary reinforcer)

Answer 28

Conditioned Reinforcers

Question 29

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Answer 29

Reinforcement Schedules

Question 30

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs, learning occurs rapidly, but extinction also occurs rapidly

Answer 30

Continuous Reinforcement

Question 31

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.

Answer 31

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedules

Question 32

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Answer 32

Fixed-Ratio Schedules

Question 33

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Answer 33

Variable Ratio Schedules

Question 34

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Answer 34

Fixed-Interval Schedules

Question 35

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Answer 35

Variable-Interval Schedules

Question 36

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

Answer 36

Punisher

Question 37

A type of punishment that is the administration of an adverse stimulus

Answer 37

Positive Punishment

Question 38

A type of punishment that is the withdrawal of a rewarding stimulus

Answer 38

Negative Punishment

Question 39

A biological predisposition to learn associations, such as between taste and nausea, that have survival value

Answer 39

Preparedness

Question 40

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns

Answer 40

Instinctive Drift

Question 41

A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment

Answer 41

Cognitive Map

Question 42

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Answer 42

Latent Learning

Question 43

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Answer 43

Modeling

Question 44

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy.

Answer 44

Mirror Neurons

Question 45

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.

Answer 45

Prosocial Behavior