Chapter 7: Learning

Question 1

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

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 its consequences (as in operant conditioning).

Answer 2

Associative Learning

Question 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Answer 3

Stimulus

Question 4

Behaviour that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Answer 4

Respondent Behaviour

Question 5

Behaviour that operates on the environment, producing a consequence.

Answer 5

Operant Behaviour

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Cognitive Learning

Question 7

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, the first stimulus comes to elicit behaviour in anticipation of the second stimulus (ex. Pavlov’s dogs).

Answer 7

Classical Conditioning

Question 8

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behaviour without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Answer 8

Behaviourism

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Neutral Stimulus

Question 10

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Answer 10

Unconditioned Response

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Unconditioned Stimulus

Question 12

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Answer 12

Conditioned Response

Question 13

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Answer 13

Conditioned Stimulus

Question 14

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).

Answer 14

Acquisition

Question 15

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.

Answer 15

High-order Conditioning

Question 16

The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer enforced.

Answer 16

Extinction

Question 17

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Answer 17

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 18

In classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (In operant conditioning, generalisation occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situations.)

Answer 18

Generalisation

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 behaviour becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer, or less likely to occur if followed by a punisher.

Answer 20

Operant Conditioning

Question 21

Thorndike’s principle that behaviours followed by favourable consequences becomes more likely, and that behaviours followed by unfavourable consequences become less likely.

Answer 21

Law of Effect

Question 22

In operant conditioning research, a chamber 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 behaviour that follows.

Answer 23

Reinforcement

Question 24

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behaviour toward closer and closer approximation of the desired behaviour.

Answer 24

Shaping

Question 25

Increasing behaviours by presenting a pleasurable stimulus. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Answer 25

Positive Reinforcement

Question 26

Increasing behaviours by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.

Answer 26

Negative Reinforcement

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Primary Reinforcer

Question 28

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer.

Answer 28

Conditioned Reinforcer

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Reinforcement Schedule

Question 30

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Answer 30

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Question 31

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in much slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

Answer 31

Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Fixed-ratio Schedule

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Variable-ratio Schedule

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Fixed-interval Schedule

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Variable-interval Schedule

Question 36

An event that tends to decrease the behaviour that it follows.

Answer 36

Punishment

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Preparedness

Question 38

The tendency of a learned behaviour to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns.

Answer 38

Instinctive Drift

Question 39

A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment.

Answer 39

Cognitive Map

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Latent Learning

Question 41

Learning by observing others.

Answer 41

Observational Learning

Question 42

The process of observing and imitating a specific behaviour.

Answer 42

Modelling

Question 43

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 43

Mirror Neurons

Question 44

Positive, constructive, helpful behaviours. The opposite of antisocial behaviour.

Answer 44

Prosocial Behaviour