learning

Question 1

contiguity

Answer 1

closeness in time between the pairing of NS and US

Question 2

Acquisition

Answer 2

phase when NS and US are presented together

Question 3

Stimulus generalisation

Answer 3

response to a stimulus similar to original CS

Question 4

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 4

capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli

Question 5

Extinction

Answer 5

presentation of CS without US leads to reduction of CR

CS loses its power to elicit a CR

Question 6

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 6

reappearance of learnt response after extinction has occurred

Question 7

Higher order conditioning

Answer 7

a strong CS is paired with a NS

new NS becomes a CS

Question 8

Vicarious classical conditioning

Answer 8

learning to respond emotionally to a stimulus y observing another person’s response to the stimulus
survival value

Question 9

aversive learning

Answer 9

associating a specific sensory cue with becoming sick

avoiding that sensory cue in future

Question 10

biological preparedness

Answer 10

tendency of animals to learn certain associations with only one or a few pairings due to survival value of learning

Question 11

shaping

Answer 11

reinforcement of simple steps leading to the desired behaviour

Question 12

successive approximation

Answer 12

small steps, one after another, leading to a particular goal behaviour

Question 13

instinctive drift

Answer 13

the tendency for animal’s behaviour to revert to genetically controlled patterns

Question 14

reinforcement

Answer 14

an event or stimulus that when following a response increases the possibility that the response will occur again

Question 15

primary reinforcer

Answer 15

any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need
food, drink, pleasure

Question 16

secondary reinforcer

Answer 16

any reinforcer that becomes a reinforcer after being paired with a primary reinforcer
money, grades

Question 17

positive reinforcement

Answer 17

reinforcement of a response by the addition or experience of a pleasurable stimulus
being praised for good grades

Question 18

negative reinforcement

Answer 18

reinforcement of a response by the removal of, escape from or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus
studying to avoid bad grades

Question 19

operant conditioning

Answer 19

the learning of voluntary behaviour through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant (natural) consequences to a result

Question 20

Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 20

if a response is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated - reinforcement
if a response is followed by an unpleasant stimulus, it will tend to not be repeated - punishment

Question 21

Skinner’s contribution

Answer 21

gave operant conditioning its name
learning depends on what happens after the response
(the consequence)
skinner box

Question 22

elements of observational learning

Answer 22

attention
retention
reproduction
motivation