Learning

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

Learning is something that comes from experience.

Question 2

What are the three types of learning?

Answer 2

The three types of learning are nonassociative learning, associative learning, and social learning.

Question 3

What is nonassociative learning?

Answer 3

Nonassociative learning involves learning to adjust responses to a repeated stimulus, such as getting used to trains passing by while sleeping.

Question 4

What is habituation, and how does it relate to nonassociative learning?

Answer 4

Habituation is when our behavioral response to a stimulus decreases, and it is a form of nonassociative learning.

Question 5

How might habituation occur in a person who lives near a busy street?

Answer 5

Over time, the person may stop noticing the sound of traffic as their behavioral response to the noise decreases through habituation.

Question 6

How does sensitization differ from habituation?

Answer 6

Sensitization is when our behavioral response to a stimulus increases, the opposite of habituation.

Question 7

What is associative learning?

Answer 7

Associative learning involves learning about the link between two stimuli or events that go together.

Question 8

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 8

Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally produces a response.

Question 9

How does Pavlov’s experiment demonstrate classical conditioning?

Answer 9

Pavlov used a bell as the conditioned stimulus (CS), food as the unconditioned stimulus (US), and salivation as the unconditioned response (UR). After pairing the bell with food, the dog learned to salivate (conditioned response, CR) at the sound of the bell alone.

Question 10

How could classical conditioning explain why someone feels hungry when hearing a specific sound (e.g., a dinner bell)?

Answer 10

The sound of the dinner bell (CS) has been repeatedly associated with food (US), causing a conditioned response of hunger (CR) whenever the bell rings.

Question 11

What is the difference between the unconditioned response (UR) and the conditioned response (CR) in classical conditioning?

Answer 11

The unconditioned response (UR) occurs naturally without training, while the conditioned response (CR) occurs after learning and is triggered by the conditioned stimulus.

Question 12

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 12

Operant conditioning is a form of associative learning where behavior is shaped by rewards or punishments.

Question 13

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 13

Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (US), leading to a decrease or disappearance of the conditioned response (CR).

Question 14

What effect do reinforcement and punishment have on behavior in operant conditioning?

Answer 14

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases it.

Question 15

How might positive reinforcement be used to encourage a child to complete their homework?

Answer 15

Positive reinforcement could involve giving the child a reward, such as extra playtime, after completing their homework, increasing the likelihood they will do it again.

Question 16

Compare positive and negative reinforcement in operant conditioning.

Answer 16

Positive reinforcement involves giving something desirable to increase behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing something undesirable to increase behavior.

Question 17

Is punishment an effective strategy for changing behavior? Why or why not?

Answer 17

Studies show punishment is less effective than reinforcement and can lead to long-term problems, such as fear or avoidance, rather than teaching desired behavior.

Question 18

What is stimulus generalization?

Answer 18

Stimulus generalization occurs when stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus produce the same conditioned response.

Question 19

How does stimulus discrimination differ from stimulus generalization?

Answer 19

Stimulus discrimination is the differentiation between two similar stimuli, where only one is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 20

How could stimulus generalization explain a fear of all dogs after being bitten by one?

Answer 20

After being bitten by one dog, the person may generalize their fear to all dogs, even though not all dogs are associated with the initial fear-inducing event.

Question 21

What is social learning?

Answer 21

Social learning is learning acquired through social means, such as observing others or receiving verbal instructions.

Question 22

How does social learning differ from classical and operant conditioning?

Answer 22

Social learning occurs by observing others and does not require direct experience of rewards or punishments, unlike classical and operant conditioning.

Question 23

What is vicarious learning?

Answer 23

Vicarious learning occurs when one learns about the consequences of behavior by observing how others are rewarded or punished.

Question 24

How might a child learn to tie their shoes through social learning?

Answer 24

The child might observe a parent or sibling tying their shoes and learn to imitate their actions, without needing direct instruction or rewards.

Question 25

How might a student learn the importance of studying through vicarious learning?

Answer 25

A student might observe a classmate being praised for good grades after studying and learn that studying leads to positive reinforcement, even though the student hasn’t experienced the praise directly.

Question 26

How do classical conditioning and operant conditioning differ in the way they shape behavior?

Answer 26

Classical conditioning involves associating two stimuli to produce a response, while operant conditioning involves learning from the consequences of actions to shape future behavior.

Question 27

Evaluate the effectiveness of positive reinforcement versus negative punishment in shaping desired behavior.

Answer 27

Positive reinforcement tends to be more effective because it motivates individuals by rewarding desired behaviors, while negative punishment can create frustration and reduce motivation if not applied carefully.

Question 28

Design a classroom experiment to demonstrate operant conditioning in shaping student behavior.

Answer 28

You could use a token reward system where students receive tokens for completing assignments or participating in class. These tokens can be exchanged for privileges or treats, encouraging positive behavior through positive reinforcement.