Chapter Five: Learning

Question 1

Behaviorism

Answer 1

a theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as thinking, wishing, and hoping.

Question 2

Conditioning

Answer 2

the process of learning associations between events.

Question 3

Classical Conditioning

Answer 3

learning process in which neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response.

Question 4

Operant Conditioning

Answer 4

learnt the behavior between a behavior and a consequence, such as a reward.

Question 5

Observational Learning

Answer 5

a person observes and imitates another’s behavior.

Question 6

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 6

stimulus that produces a response without prior learning.

Question 7

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Answer 7

an unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the UCS)

Question 8

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

a previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the UCS.

Question 9

Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 9

learned response to the CS that occurs after CS-USC pairing.

Question 10

Acquisition

Answer 10

the initial learning of the connection between the USC and the CS when these two are paired.

Question 11

Generalization

Answer 11

classical conditioning tendency that a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response.

Question 12

Discrimination

Answer 12

classical conditioning that is the process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others.

Question 13

Extinction

Answer 13

the weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent.

Question 14

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 14

the process in classical conditioning by which the conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning.

Question 15

Renewal

Answer 15

the recovery of the conditioned response when the organism is placed in a novel context.

Question 16

Counterconditioning

Answer 16

a classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.

Question 17

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 17

a method of therapy that treats anxiety by teaching the client to associate deep relaxation with increasingly intense anxiety-producing situations.

Question 18

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 18

states that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and that behaviors with negative outcomes are weakened.

Question 19

Shaping

Answer 19

rewarding approximations of a desired behavior.

Question 20

Reinforcement

Answer 20

process by which a rewarding stimulus or event following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again.

Question 21

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 21

the frequency of a behavior increases because it is followed by the presentation of something that is good.

Question 22

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 22

the frequency of a behavior increase because it is followed by the removal of something unpleasant.

Question 23

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 23

a reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism’s part to make it pleasurable.

Question 24

Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 24

a reinforcer that acquires its positive value through an organism’s experience; a secondary reinforcer is a learned or conditioned reinforcer.

Question 25

Schedules of Reinforcement

Answer 25

specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced such as fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, and variable interval.

Question 26

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Answer 26

reinforces a behavior after a set number of times. Example; slot machine gives you back $5 every 20th time you put money in the machine.

Question 27

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Answer 27

reinforces the first behavior after a fixed amount of time has passed. Example; pet knowing food is given at same time everyday, so they know when to go to their food dish.

Question 28

Variable-Interval Schedule

Answer 28

a timetable in which behavior is reinforced after a variable amount of time has elapsed. Example; pop quizzes.

Question 29

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Answer 29

a timetable in which behaviors are rewarded an average number of times but on an unpredictable basis. Example; slot machine might payoff an average of every 20th time, but the gambler does not know when this payoff might be.

Question 30

Negative Punishment

Answer 30

a behavior decreases when a positive stimulus is removed.

Question 31

Positive Punishment

Answer 31

a behavior decreases when it is followed by the presentation of an unpleasant stimulus.

Question 32

Applied Behavior Analysis

Answer 32

the use of operant conditioning principles to change human behavior.

Question 33

Latent Learning

Answer 33

is a unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Question 34

Insight Learning

Answer 34

a form of problem solving in which the organism develops sudden insight or understanding of a problem’s solution.

Question 35

Instinctive Drift

Answer 35

the tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning.

Question 36

Preparedness

Answer 36

the species-specific biological predisposition to learn in certain ways but not others.