Learning Theories

Question 1

Learning theories can be divided into…

Answer 1

stimuli–response theories (classical conditioning), operant conditioning, social learning theories

Question 2

Learning theories posit that…

Answer 2

learning occurs through observation and internalized motivational forces

Question 3

What experiment did pavlov do?

Answer 3

Dogs and saliva and a bell.

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

pairing unconditioned stimulus (e.g. meat powder) that automatically elicited the unconditioned response (e.g. salivate), with a neutral conditioned stimulus that would ordinarily not elicit a response (e.g. bell) would eventually result in the conditioned stimulus eliciting the unconditioned response.

Question 5

Who developed classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Pavlov

Question 6

What must be present for a classically conditioned response to be created?

Answer 6

Temporal relationship between unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned response (e.g. presented in the same instance)

Question 7

What is delayed conditioning?

Answer 7

When the Conditioned Stimulus (bell) begins first but overlaps the presentation of the unconditioned response (salivating).

Question 8

What is backward conditioning?

Answer 8

The unconditioned stimulus (meat powder) is presented before the conditioned stimulus (bell)––it’s not as effective.

Question 9

Extinction

Answer 9

Once pairing is made, if it’s not repeated then the learning will weaken.

Question 10

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 10

When the connection is reestablished. Learning is never totally lost––just inhibited and waiting to be revived

Question 11

Stimulus generalization

Answer 11

When Conditioned Stimulus and Conditioned Response are generalized to other stimuli similar to original conditioned stimulus

Question 12

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 12

When participant responds to one stimuli but not another similar stimuli

Question 13

John Watson

Answer 13

Father of American Behaviorism said that psychology should only deal with what can be observed and accurately measured

Question 14

Little Albert experiment

Answer 14

Watson attempted to condition a phobia into an 11-month old infant (he succeeded) and then tried to decondition the phobia (he failed). He presented a white rat with a loud noise and got the child to be afraid when just the rat appeared

Question 15

Joseph Wolpe

Answer 15

Applied classical conditioning procedures to psychotherapy

Question 16

Reciprocal inhibition

Answer 16

Wolpe’s writings about how we cannot feel relaxed and anxious at the same time.

Question 17

Systematic desensitazion

Answer 17

Wolpe’s treatment of phobias which involves developing a fear hierarchy and progressively introducing each step on the hierarchy while the client attains a simultaneous state of relaxation.

Question 18

Counterconditioning

Answer 18

Strong pleasant stimulus is paired with weak aversive stimulus

Question 19

Aversive counterconditioning

Answer 19

A noxious stimulus is applied when a maladaptive response is made––e.g. rubber band is snapped on the wrist when clients experience the thoughts they are trying to suppress.

Question 20

Flooding

Answer 20

A stimulus that provokes anxiety is continuously presented until the client unlearns the response or becomes to fatigued to respond

Question 21

Law of effect

Answer 21

Edward Thorndike stated that when a response is accompanying some stimulus is followed by a satisfying reward, a connection is made and the response is likely to be repeated. The opposite is true.

Question 22

Operant Conditioning

Answer 22

B.F. Skinner’s theory is that a response is either strengthened or diminished because of the consequences that follow (like Thorndike’s Law of Effect).

Question 23

Positive reinforcement

Answer 23

Occurs when the addition of stimulus (e.g. reward) increases likelihood a behavior will reoccur

Question 24

Negative reinforcement

Answer 24

When removal of stimulus (e.g. loud noise) increases likelihood a behavior will reoccur

Question 25

Punishment

Answer 25

Addition or removal of a stimulus that decreases the frequency of given behavior.

Question 26

Primary reinforcer

Answer 26

satisfies a primary need (e.g. food and rest)

Question 27

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 27

Anything that becomes associated with a primary need like money, which can be traded for food or comfort

Question 28

Reinforcement schedules

Answer 28

how frequently reinforcements are administered

Question 29

Fixed ratio schedules

Answer 29

Reinforcer is administered each time a participant makes a certain number of responses (e.g. every 5th response, every 10th response)

Question 30

Variable ratio schedules

Answer 30

Reinforcements are presented periodically so they occur every other, every 5th, etc.

Question 31

Fixed interval schedules

Answer 31

Reinforcements are presented after a fixed period of time (15 seconds)

Question 32

Variable interval schedules

Answer 32

Time interval of the reinforcement is varied

Question 33

Social learning

Answer 33

views learning as more that simple stimulus-response connections and take into account both social and cognitive developmental factors

Question 34

Social learning theory

Answer 34

Developed by Albert Bandura, based on principles that people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling

Question 35

Observational (vicarious) learning

Answer 35

Learning through passive observation

Question 36

Modeling

Answer 36

Demonstrating how a behavior is performed so that it may be learned and passed on

Question 37

Effective modeling

Answer 37

Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation

Question 38

Attention

Answer 38

Learners must attend to and perceive the modeled behavior accurately

Question 39

Retention

Answer 39

Learners must process the modeled behavior and store it in memory either through visual imagery or verbal coding

Question 40

Reproduction

Answer 40

Learners must accurately reproduce and practice behavior

Question 41

Motivation

Answer 41

Internal reinforcement or external reinforcement increases an individual’s motivation and likelihood of mastery

Question 42

Dollard and Miller approach

Answer 42

Drive or incentive theorists believing anxiety and psychological disturbances were learned from experiences

Question 43

Dollard and Miller theory

Answer 43

People develop habits that allow them to respond predictably. They reduce primary drives (innate) and secondary drives (learned)

Question 44

Three primary types of conflicts according to Dollard and Miller

Answer 44

Approach-approach conflicts, Approach-avoidance conflicts, Avoidance-avoidance conflicts

Question 45

Approach-approach conflicts

Answer 45

Two positive choices are presented but only one can be chosen

Question 46

Approach-avoidance conflicts

Answer 46

Person wants something appealing but fears being punished or being negatively evaluated for obtaining it

Question 47

Avoidance-avoidance conflicts

Answer 47

When person loses no matter which choice is made

Question 48

Classical conditioning is a type of stimulus-response learning theory. In Pavlov’s experiment, the conditioned stimulus was…

Answer 48

The bell, buzzer, or tone

Question 49

In classical conditioning, when people present a conditioned stimulus at the same time as the unconditioned stimulus, they are using…

Answer 49

Simultaneous conditioning

Question 50

In classical conditioning, the temporal relationship between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus is important. The effectiveness of the conditioning depends on how and when either stimulus is presented. Which of the following is the most successful form of conditioning.

Answer 50

Delayed conditioning

Question 51

John is extremely stressed about his upcoming statistics test. His counselor suggests that he try imagining that he is at a lake fishing for the day. John does so and begins to feel better. Which of the following people developed the principle of reciprocal inhibition, which means that a person cannot engage in two mutually exclusive events

Answer 51

Joseph Wolpe

Question 52

Ethan is two years old. After watching his mother wrinkle her nose at items she disliked, he began picking up items he would inform them. Which of the following people developed social learning theory, which is based on the principle that people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling

Answer 52

Albert Bandura