Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

A relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

A procedure during which an animal or person learns to associate a reflex response with a new stimulus

Question 3

Classical conditioning schedule

Answer 3

The steps in the procedure to condition a new response.

Question 4

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 4

The stimulus that produces a reflex response, such as the food for Pavlov’s dog.

Question 5

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 5

The reflex response to an unconditioned stimulus, such as Pavlov’s dog’s salivation.

Question 6

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 6

A new stimulus presented with the UCS, such as the bell in Pavlov’s experiment.

Question 7

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 7

The response that is learnt; it now occurs when the CS is presented, such as Pavlov’s dog’s salivation.

Question 8

Extinction

Answer 8

A conditioned response dies out.

Question 9

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 9

A conditioned response that has disappeared suddenly appears again.

Question 10

Generalisation

Answer 10

The conditioned response is produced when a similar stimulus to the original conditioned stimulus is presented.

Question 11

Discrimination (with reference to conditioning)

Answer 11

The conditioned response is only produced when a specific stimulus is presented.

Question 12

Operant conditioning

Answer 12

Learning due to the consequences of behaviour, through positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement.

Question 13

Law of effect

Answer 13

Behaviours that are followed by rewards are usually repeated; those that are punished are not usually repeated.

Question 14

Punishment

Answer 14

A stimulus that weakens behavior because it is unpleasant and we try to avoid it.

Question 15

Reinforcement

Answer 15

A consequence of behaviour that encourages or strengthens a behavior. This might be seen as a reward.

Question 16

Positive reinforcement

Answer 16

A reward or pleasant consequence that increases the likelihood that a behaviour or action will be repeated.

Question 17

Negative reinforcement

Answer 17

When an unpleasant experience is removed after a behavior or action has been made. This increases the likelihood of that behavior or action being repeated.

Question 18

Behavior shaping

Answer 18

Changing behavior in small steps.

Question 19

Phobia

Answer 19

A persistent and irrational fear of an object, activity or situation. The typical symptoms are intense feelings of fear and anxiety to avoid the object, activity or situation.

Question 20

Flooding

Answer 20

A treatment for phobias that involves the immediate exposure of the person to the feared object, activity or situation, until there is no fear response.

Question 21

Systematic desensitisation

Answer 21

A treatment for phobias in which the person us taught to relax and then is gradually exposed to the feared object, activity or situation.

Question 22

Hierarchy of fears

Answer 22

A series of feared events ranked from least frightening to most frightening.

Question 23

Aversion therapy

Answer 23

A treatment for addictions, such as drug and alcohol dependency, which makes the addict have an extremely negative reaction to the addictive substance.

Question 24

Primary reinforcer

Answer 24

A reward, such as food or water, that the animal or person needs in order to survive.

Question 25

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 25

A reward, such as money or a token, that the animal or person can exchange for a primary reinforcer.