Classical & Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Classical conditioning

Answer 1

refers to learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally produces behaviour, After the association is learned, the previously neutral stimulus is sufficient to produce the behaviour.

Question 2

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 2

something (such as food) that triggers a naturally occurring response

Question 3

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 3

the naturally occurring response (such as salivation) that follows the unconditioned stimulus)

Question 4

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 4

a neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly represented prior to the unconditioned stimulus, evokes a similar response as the unconditioned stimulus

Question 5

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 5

the acquired response to the formerly neutral stimulus

Question 6

Extinction

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 7

the increase in responding to the CS following a pause after extinction. Extinction is never complete, if conditioning is again attempted, the animal will learn the new associations much faster than it did the first time

Question 8

Generalization

Answer 8

the tendency to respond to stimuli that resemble the original CS

Question 9

Discrimination

Answer 9

flip side of generalization - the tendency to respond differently to stimuli that are similar but not identical

Question 10

Second-order conditioning

Answer 10

an existing conditioned stimulus can serve as an US for a pairing with a new CS

Question 11

Operant conditioning

Answer 11

learning that occurs based on the consequences of behaviour and can involve the learning of new actions

Question 12

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 12

the principle that responses that create a typically pleasant outcome in a particular 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 13

Positive reinforcement

Answer 13

add or increase a pleasant stimulus
outcome: behaviour is strengthened
E.g.: giving a student a prize after he gets an A on the test

Question 14

Negative reinforcement

Answer 14

reduce or remove an unpleasant stimulus
Outcome: behaviour is strengthened
E.g.: taking painkillers that eliminate pain increases the likelihood that you will take painkillers again

Question 15

Positive punishment

Answer 15

present or add an unpleasant stimulus
Outcome: behaviour is weakened
e.g.: giving a student extra homework after he misbehaves in class

Question 16

Negative punishment

Answer 16

reduce or remove a pleasant stimulus
outcome: behaviour is weakened
e.g.: taking away a teen’s computer after he misses curfew

Question 17

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 17

the desired response is reinforced every time it occurs. Result is fast learning, but rapid extinction

Question 18

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 18

a schedule in which the responses are sometimes reinforced and sometimes not. Result is slower learning, but greater resistance to extinction

Question 19

Fixed-ratio

Answer 19

Behaviour is reinforced after a specific number of responses
E.g.: factory workers who are paid according to the number of products they produce

Question 20

Variable-ratio

Answer 20

behaviour is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, number of responses
e.g.: payoffs from slot machines and other games of chance

Question 21

Fixed-interval

Answer 21

behaviour is reinforced for the first response after a specific amount of time has passed
e.g. people who earn a monthly salary

Question 22

Variable-interval

Answer 22

behaviour is reinforced for the first response after an average, but unpredictable, amount of time has passed
e.g.: person who checks emails for messages

Question 23

Shaping

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Primary reinforcer

Answer 24

includes stimuli that are naturally preferred or enjoyed by the organism (food, water, relief from pain)

Question 25

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcer

Answer 25

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