Chapter 7

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

the relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior that is the result of experience

Question 2

conditioning

Answer 2

the ability to connect stimuli (the changes that occur in the environment) with responses (behaviors or other actions)

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus (e.g., a tone) becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally produced a behavior

Question 4

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 4

in classical conditioning, the stimulus that triggers a naturally occurring response

Question 5

unconditioned response

Answer 5

in classical conditioning, the naturally occurring response that follows the unconditioned stimulus

Question 6

conditioned stimulus

Answer 6

in ClasC, a neutral stimulous, that, after being repeatedly presented prior to the unconditional stimulus, evokes a similar response as the unconditioned stimulus

Question 7

conditioned response

Answer 7

acquired response to the formally neutral stimulus

Question 8

extinction

Answer 8

the reduction in responding that occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus

Question 9

spontaneous recoverty

Answer 9

the increase in responding to the CS following a pause after extinction

Question 10

generalization

Answer 10

the tendency to respond to stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus

Question 11

discrimination

Answer 11

the tendency to respond differently to stimuli that are similar but not identical

Question 12

second-order conditioning

Answer 12

an existing condtioned stimulus can serve as an unconditioned stimulus for a pairing with a new conditioned stimulus

Question 13

phobia

Answer 13

a strong or irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation

Question 14

operant conditioning

Answer 14

learning that occurs based on the consequences of behavior, can involve learning of new actions

Question 15

Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 15

the principle that responses that create a typically pleasant outcome in a situation are more likely to occur again in a similar situation, whereas responses that produce a typically unpleasant outcome are less likely to occur again in the situation

Question 16

operant chambers/Skinner boxes

Answer 16

a structure that is big enough to fit a rodent or bird that contains a bar or key that the organism can press or peck to release food or water. It also contains a device to record the animal’s responses

Question 17

reinforcer

Answer 17

any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior

Question 18

punisher

Answer 18

any event that weakens or decreases the likelihood of a behavior

Question 19

positive/negative

Answer 19

whether a reinforcement was presented or removed

Question 20

positive reinforcement

Answer 20

strengthens a response by presenting something pleasant after the response

Question 21

negative reinforcement

Answer 21

strengthens a response by reducing or removing something unpleasant

Question 22

punishment

Answer 22

pos punishment weakens behavior by increasing punishment, neg punishment weakens it by decreasing reinforcement

Question 23

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 23

reinforcement occurs for the first response made after a specific amount of time has passed

Question 24

variable-interval schedule

Answer 24

the reinforcers appear on an interval schedule, but the timing is varied around the average interval, making the actual appearance of the reinforcer unpredictable

Question 25

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 25

provides reinforcers after a specific but average number of responses

Question 26

shaping

Answer 26

the process of guiding an organism’s behavior to the desired outcome through the use of successive approximation to a final desired behavior

Question 27

primary reinforcers

Answer 27

stimuli that are naturally preferred or enjoyed by the organism, such as food, water, and relief from pain

Question 28

secondary reinforcers

Answer 28

a neutral event that has become associated with a primary reinforcer through classical conditioning

Question 29

insight

Answer 29

the sudden understanding of a solution to a problem

Question 30

latent learning

Answer 30

learning that is not reinforced and not demonstrated until there is motivation to do so
i.e. rats that explore a maze but only show that they can finish it it when there’s an incentive to

Question 31

observational learning

Answer 31

learning by observing the behavior of others,

Question 32

programmed instruction

Answer 32

an educational tool that consists of self-teaching with the aid of a specialized textbook

Question 33

commons dilemma

Answer 33

a situation in which the behavior that creates the most positive outcomes for the individual may in the long term lead to negative consequences for the group as a whole

Question 34

prisoner’s dilemma

Answer 34

a type of game which represents a social dilemma in which the goals of the individual compete with the goals of another individual (or maybe a group of individuals)