Key Terms 6

Question 1

acquisition

Answer 1

refers to the first stages of learning when a response is established. In classical conditioning, it refers to the period when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

conditioned response involving behaviors, usually involuntary

Question 3

conditioned response

Answer 3

response based on conditioning

Question 4

conditioning

Answer 4

theory that the reaction to a stimulus can be modified by learning

Question 5

fixed interval schedule

Answer 5

In operant conditioning, a fixed-interval schedule is a schedule of reinforcement where the first response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed (study more before a test)

Question 6

insight

Answer 6

occurs when a solution to a problem presents itself quickly and without warning

Question 7

latent learning

Answer 7

form of learning not immediately expressed by an overt response

Question 8

mirror neurons

Answer 8

A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron “mirrors” the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Such neurons have been directly observed in primate species.

Question 9

negative reinforcement

Answer 9

a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.

Question 10

observational learning

Answer 10

learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others. It is a form of social learning which takes various forms, based on various processes.

Question 11

positive punishment

Answer 11

involves presenting an unfavorable outcome or event following an undesirable behavior.

Question 12

premack principle

Answer 12

preferred behaviors, or behaviors with a higher level of intrinsic reinforcement, can be used as rewards, or reinforcements, for less preferred behaviors.

Question 13

spontaneous recovery

Answer 13

reappearance of a response (a Conditioned Response; CR) that had been extinguished

Question 14

stimulus generalization

Answer 14

tendency for the conditioned stimulus to evoke similar responses after the response has been conditioned.

Question 15

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 15

is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response. For example, when you smell one of your favorite foods, you may immediately feel very hungry

Question 16

variable ratio schedule

Answer 16

schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses (ex - gambling)

Question 17

higher-order conditioning

Answer 17

(also known as Second Order Conditioning) is a classical conditioning term that refers to a situation in which a stimulus that was previously neutral (e.g., a light) is paired with a conditioned stimulus

Question 18

cognitive-social learning theory

Answer 18

that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation

Question 19

conditioned taste aversion

Answer 19

occurs when an animal associates the taste of a certain food with symptoms caused by a toxic, spoiled, or poisonous substance. Generally, taste aversion is developed after ingestion of food that causes nausea, sickness, or vomiting.

Question 20

biological preparedness

Answer 20

suggests that humans and animals are inherently primed to form certain associations

Question 21

cognitive map

Answer 21

a mental representation of one’s physical environment.

Question 22

conditioned stimulus

Answer 22

previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response

Question 23

extinction

Answer 23

disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced

Question 24

fixed ratio schedule

Answer 24

schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses. … One advantage of this type of schedule is that it produces a high, steady rate of responding with only a brief pause after the delivery of the reinforcer. (ex - paid by the piece factory workers)

Question 25

instinct drift

Answer 25

reverting back to instincts that hadn’t appeared for awhile (killer whale attacking trainer)

Question 26

law of effect

Answer 26

psychological principle advanced by Edward Thorndike in 1905 on the matter of behavioral conditioning (not yet formulated as such) which states that “responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation

Question 27

negative punishment

Answer 27

taking away a certain desired item after the undesired behavior happens in order to decrease future responses

Question 28

neutral stimulus

Answer 28

stimulus which initially produces no specific response other than focusing attention

Question 29

operant conditioning

Answer 29

conditioning involving two stimuli, usually voluntary

Question 30

positive reinforcement

Answer 30

a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future.

Question 31

shaping

Answer 31

a conditioning paradigm used primarily in the experimental analysis of behavior. The method used is differential reinforcement of successive approximations. It was introduced by B. F. Skinner with pigeons and extended to dogs, dolphins, humans and other species.

Question 32

stimulus discrimination

Answer 32

the ability to distinguish between one stimulus and similar stimuli. In both cases, it means only responding to certain stimuli but not to those that are similar.

Question 33

unconditioned response

Answer 33

an unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus

Question 34

variable interval schedule

Answer 34

schedule in which reinforcement is given to a response after specific amount of time has passed (an unpredictable amount of time), but this amount of time is on a changing/variable schedule. (ex - sport fishing)

Question 35

phobia

Answer 35

an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something