learning

Question 1

phobias

Answer 1

irrational fears of specific objects or situations

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus

Question 3

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 3

a stimulus that evokes an unconditional response without previous conditioning

Question 4

unconditioned response

Answer 4

unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning

Question 5

conditioned stimulus

Answer 5

previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response

Question 6

conditioned response

Answer 6

learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning

Question 7

elicited

Answer 7

drawn forth
classically conditioned responses have traditionally been described as reflexes because most are relatively automatic or involuntary

Question 8

trial

Answer 8

in classical conditioning consists of any presentation of a stimulus or a pair of stimuli

Question 9

evaluative conditioning

Answer 9

changes in the liking of a stimulus that result from pairing that stimulus with other positive or negative stimuli

Question 10

acquisition

Answer 10

initial stage of learning something

Question 11

extinction

Answer 11

gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency

Question 12

spontaneous recovery

Answer 12

reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of nonexposure to the conditioned stimulus

Question 13

renewal effect

Answer 13

if a response is extinguished in a different environment than where it was acquired, the extinguished response will appear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place

Question 14

stimulus generalization

Answer 14

an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds in the same way to a new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus

Question 15

stimulus discrimination

Answer 15

an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus

Question 16

higher order conditioning

Answer 16

a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus

Question 17

operant conditioning

Answer 17

a form of learning in which responses come to be controlled by their consequences

Question 18

reinforcement

Answer 18

occurs when an event following a response increases an organism’s tendency to make that response

Question 19

operant chamber or skinner box

Answer 19

a small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is recorded while the consequences of the response are systematically controlled

Question 20

emit

Answer 20

send forth

Question 21

reinforcement contingencies

Answer 21

circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcers

Question 22

cumulative recorder

Answer 22

creates a graphic record of responding and reinforcement in a skinner box as a function of time

Question 23

primary reinforcers

Answer 23

events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs

Question 24

secondary or conditioned reinforcers

Answer 24

events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers

Question 25

shaping

Answer 25

consists of repeatedly reinforcing closer and closer approximations of a desired response until the desired response is achieved

Question 26

resistance to extinction

Answer 26

an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer has been terminated

Question 27

discriminative stimuli

Answer 27

cues that influence operant behavior by indicating the probably consequences of a response

Question 28

schedule of reinforcement

Answer 28

determines which occurrences of a specific response result in the presentation of a reinforcement

Question 29

continuous reinforcement

Answer 29

occurs when every instance of a designated response is reinforced

Question 30

intermittent or partial reinforcement

Answer 30

occurs when a designated response is reinforced only some of the time

Question 31

fixed ratio schedule

Answer 31

reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses

Question 32

variable schedule ratio

Answer 32

reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses

Question 33

fixed interval schedule

Answer 33

reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval has elapsed

Question 34

variable interval schedule

Answer 34

reinforcer given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed

Question 35

positive reinforcement

Answer 35

response is strengthened because it is followed by presentation of a rewarding stimulus

Question 36

negative reinforcement

Answer 36

response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus

Question 37

escape learning

Answer 37

an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation

Question 38

avoidance learning

Answer 38

an organism acquires a response that prevents some aversive stimulation from occurring

Question 39

punishment

Answer 39

occurs when an event following a response weakens the tendency to make that response

Question 40

latent learning

Answer 40

learning that is not apparent from behavior when it first occurs

Question 41

observational learning

Answer 41

occurs when an organism’s responding is influenced by the observation of others who are called models

Question 42

behavior modifiation

Answer 42

systematic approach to changing behavior through the application of the principles of conditioning

Question 43

behavioral contract

Answer 43

a written agreement outlining a promise to adhere to the contingencies of a behavior modification program

Question 44

learning

Answer 44

any relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience