Chp 4

Question 1

Learning helps individuals…

Answer 1

Survive in an ever changing environment

Question 2

Phylogenetically selected behaviors

Answer 2

Behaviors we inherit from our parents. They are well suited to stable environmental conditions. It’s a natural selection process that provides a survival advantage

Question 3

Moro reflex

Answer 3

Reflex when head support is lost. Extended head, widely spread arms w palms in front, finger extended

Question 4

Palmar grasp reflex

Answer 4

Pinky fingers in the palm of infants can hold its weight

Question 5

A stimulus elicits a response when

Answer 5

A specific stimulus occasions a specific reflex response

Question 6

Why are reflexes/responses so adaptive?

Answer 6

Bc they only occur at the moment they will increase the individual’s likelihood of survival

Question 7

Habituation

Answer 7

Gradual reduction in responding following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus. (Your mouth salivates less the more you eat something in one sitting)

Question 8

“Nature only” world:

Answer 8

Completely reflexive actions. All behavior would be elicited by stimuli. We wouldn’t learn from our experiences and we wouldn’t adapt to new environments

Question 9

Evoke

Answer 9

When a stimulus causes a non-reflexive response it is evoked

Question 10

Neutral stimulus

Answer 10

Doesn’t evoke a response

Question 11

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 11

Stimulus that elicits a response without any prior learning

Question 12

Unconditioned response

Answer 12

Response reliably elicited by the unconditioned stimulus

Question 13

3 things learned during Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 13

1. The conditioned stimulus signals a delay reduction to the unconditioned stimulus (the time to the next US is less than before)
2. The CS signals when the US is coming (if the US reliably occurs 10 seconds after the CS onset, the CS will not immediately evoke the CR). CR’s are timed to the delivery of the US so learning occurs when the US occurs.
3. The CS signals which US is coming.

Question 14

Ways to increase efficacy of Pavlovian conditions

Answer 14

1. Use an important US
2. Use a salient CS (noticeable)
3. Use a CS that signals a large delay reduction to the US
4. Make sure the CS is not redundant

Question 15

Delay-reduction ratio

Answer 15

Measures the amount of delay reduction signaled by CS
1st: determine the avg time bw US events
2nd- measure the CS>US interval
3rd- enter these two values into the delay reduction ratio

Question 16

Blocking effect

Answer 16

When a established CS blocks the redundant neutral stimulant from acquiring CS function

Question 17

Pavlovian generalization.

Answer 17

Conditioned responding to a novel stimulus that resembles the CS.

Question 18

Generalization gradient

Answer 18

Spectrum from discrimination to over generalization.
Discrimination: only the exact CS will elicit the CR
over generalization: anything that remotely resembles the CS will elicit the CR

Question 19

Pavlovian extinction theory

Answer 19

The procedure of repeatedly presenting the CS without the US, the effect of which is a reduction or elimination of the CS’s ability to evoke the CR.
Now know an graduated exposure therapy

Question 20

Graduated exposure therapy

Answer 20

The client is gradually exposed to successively stronger approximations of the CS. Before each new CS-approximation is presented, steps are taken to reduce/eliminate any fear evoked by the prior CS-approximation

Question 21

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 21

The increase in conditioned responding following the passage of time since Pavlovian extinction

Question 22

Extinction based therapies

Answer 22

Will be more effective when several sessions are conducted, sessions are conducted often, sessions continue until the CS no longer evokes CR

Question 23

Taste aversion learning

Answer 23

Example: getting sick after eating cheese, the sight of cheese makes your stomach turn

Question 24

Mary cover Jones

Answer 24

First one to use operant conditioning. Little Peter experiment: moved the rabbit closer and closer until fear dissolved