Chapter 7: Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Associative Learning

Answer 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).

Question 3

Stimulus

Answer 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Question 4

Respondent Behavior

Answer 4

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Question 5

Operant Behavior

Answer 5

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Question 6

Cognitive Learning

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Classical Conditioning

Answer 7

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) come to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food).

Question 8

Behaviorism

Answer 8

The view that psychology

(1) should be an objective science that
(2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Question 9

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Answer 10

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to and unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth .)

Question 11

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Acquisition

Answer 14

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus beings triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

Question 15

Higher-Order Conditioning

Answer 15

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is p[aired 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 bein responding to the light alone. (also called second-order conditioning)

Question 16

Extinction

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Generalization

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Discrimination

Answer 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 distinguished responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced.)

Question 20

Operant Conditioning

Answer 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.

Question 21

Law of Effect

Answer 21

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely

Question 22

Operant Chamber

Answer 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.

Question 23

Reinforcement

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Shaping

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 25

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer