Learning

Question 1

First psychology textbook

Answer 1

Thorndike

Question 2

Herman Ebbinghaus

Answer 2

learning curve. When learning something new, the rate of learning changes over time. Significant initial learning slows to lower rate later

Question 3

M.E. Olds

Answer 3

Studied electrical stimulation of pleasure centers in brain caused animals to perform behaviors to receive the stimulation. Supports drive reduction theory

Question 4

Law of effect

Answer 4

Thorndike’s precursor to operant conditioning. People do what rewards them and stop doing what doesn’t

Question 5

Kurt Lewin

Answer 5

Theory of association–before behariovirism. Grouping things together based on the fact that they occur together in time and space (rewards with cues)

Question 6

John Watson

Answer 6

founder of the school of behaviorism. Objective and observable elements are all that’s relevant to psych

Question 7

B.F.Skinner

Answer 7

1st experiments to prove Thorndike and Watson–Skinner box

Question 8

Continuous reinforcement schedule

Answer 8

every correct response met with reward. Quickest path to learning but fragile to extinction

Question 9

Partial reinforcement schedule

Answer 9

not all correct responses reinforced–either time (interval) or number (ratio) based

Question 10

Fixed ratio

Answer 10

partial reinforcement schedule based on a fixed number of correct responses (Every 6th response). Prone to extinction because known when to expect reward

Question 11

Variable ratio

Answer 11

partial reinforcement schedule based on a varying number of responses (slot machines). Very strong learning

Question 12

Fixed interval

Answer 12

partial reinforcement schedule based on set amount of time. First correct response after set time is rewarded

Question 13

Variable interval

Answer 13

partial reinforcement schedule based on varying amounts of time. Extremely unpredictable

Question 14

Fritz Heider’s balance theory

Answer 14

homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state

Question 15

Osgood & Tannenbaum congruity theory

Answer 15

homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state

Question 16

Leon Festinger

Answer 16

cognitive dissonance–homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state

Question 17

Drive reduction theories

Answer 17

people are motivated by desire to reduce drives (drive for hunger, sex, thirst, etc)

Question 18

Clark Hull

Answer 18

performance = drive X habit, 1st motivated by drive, then by memory of old successful habits. Will do what has worked before

Question 19

Edward Tolman

Answer 19

Performance = expectation X value, “expectancy value theory”. motivated by goals that we might actually meet

Question 20

Premack principle

Answer 20

We motivate ourselves to do what we don’t want to do by rewarding ourselves

Question 21

Donald Hebb

Answer 21

arousal is necessary and beneficial to performance (led to Yerkes Dodson performance curve)

Question 22

overshadowing

Answer 22

classical conditioning principle that we can’t infer a relationship when a more prominent stimulus is present

Question 23

Albert Bandura

Answer 23

social learning theory; modeling; Bobo doll study

Question 24

John Garcia, “Garcia effect”

Answer 24

we are primed to make certain connections, i.e. nausea and food

Question 25

Murray & McCelland

Answer 25

Stuidied possibility that people are motivated by a need for achievement (nAch).

Question 26

John Atkinson

Answer 26

theory of motivation in which people who set realistic goals with medium risk feel pride and want to succeed more than they fear failure. but they’re unlikely to set unrealistic goals

Question 27

Neil Miller

Answer 27

approach-avoidance conflict: state in which one feels that a certain goal has pros and cons. When far from the goal, focus on pros; when closer, focus on cons

Question 28

Positive transfer/negative transfer

Answer 28

previous learning that makes it easier or more difficult to learn another task later