Learning Theory Classical

Question 1

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 1

A stimulus that leads to an automatic response.

Pavlov: the meat powder was the US.

Question 2

Conditioned Stimulus

Answer 2

Situation in which stimulus is given just before another signal.

Question 3

Unconditioned response

Answer 3

Automatic response to a stimulus

Pavlov’s dogs: salivating was the UR

Question 4

Conditioned Response

Answer 4

Automatic response established by training (conditioned stimulus).

Question 5

Delay conditioning

Answer 5

Type of forward conditioning and involves presenting the CS so that it precedes and overlaps presentation of the US.

Best time interval is .5 seconds.
Most efficient procedure for establishing a conditioned response.

Question 6

Trace conditioning

Answer 6

Type of forward conditioning that entails presenting and terminating the CS prior to presenting the US. Produces a weaker CR than does delay conditioning.

Question 7

Simultaneous conditioning

Answer 7

Less effective than trace conditioning. Involves presenting and withdrawing the CS and US at the same time.

Question 8

Backward conditioning

Answer 8

Entails presenting the US prior to the CS. Does not usually produce a CR. Underlies classical conditioning.

Question 9

Number of conditioning trials

Answer 9

The greater the number of conditioning trials, the stronger and more persistent the CR.

Regardless of number of trials, CR is usually weaker in intensity or magnitude than the UR.

Question 10

Pre-exposure to the CS or US

Answer 10

Repeated exposure to the US or intended CS before the CS and US are paired slows down acquisition of the CR.

Question 11

Classical extinction

Answer 11

The gradual disappearance of a conditioned response as the result of repeated presentation of the CS alone

Question 12

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 12

A conditioned response is suppressed rather than eliminated by extinction trials. Learning is never lost, merely inhibited.

Question 13

Stimulus generalization

Answer 13

when the subject responds with a conditioned response not only to the CS but also to stimuli similar to the CS.

Question 14

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 14

The ability to discriminate between the CS and similar stimuli and respond only to the CS with a CR.

Opposite of stimulus generalization.

Question 15

Experimental Neurosis

Answer 15

an abnormal behavioral condition produced in an artificial laboratory setting.

EXAMPLE: in one experiment a dog learned to salivate in the presence of a circle, which had been paired with food, but not in the presence of an ellipse, which had not been paired with food.

Question 16

Higher-order conditioning

Answer 16

Occurs when a previously established CS serves as a US to establish a conditioned response for a new conditioned (neutral) stimulus.

i.e.-the new CS is paired with the established CS so that, eventually, the new neutral stimulus produces a conditioned response.

Question 17

Blocking

Answer 17

Researched by Kamin (1969)

an association has already been made between a CS and a US and, as a result, the CS blocks an association between a second neutral (CS) stimulus and the US when the CS and the second neutral stimulus are presented together prior to the US.

Question 18

Overshadowing

Answer 18

Occurs when 2 neutral stimuli (rather than a CS and a new CS) are repeatedly presented together prior to the US.

Presentation of the 2 stimuli together produces a CR, but when the 2 stimuli are presented separately, only one produces the CR.

Question 19

The “father of American behaviorism”

classical conditioning with Albert

Answer 19

John B. Watson

Question 20

Dr. Daniel Daggett presents Stimulus A along with a loud noise so that, eventually, a participant in his study reacts with a startle reaction whenever Stimulus A is presented alone. Dr. Daggett then pairs Stimulus B with Stimulus A so that Stimulus B also elicits a startle reaction when presented alone. This procedure is an example of:

Answer 20

higher-order conditioning

Question 21

Rescorla and Wagner (1972) contend that “blocking” occurs because:

Answer 21

the second neutral stimulus does not provide new information about the US

Question 22

In vivo exposure with response prevention (flooding) and implosive therapy are both based on:

Answer 22

classical extinction

Question 23

Classical extinction occurs when:

Answer 23

the CS is repeatedly presented alone

Question 24

Systemic desensitization

Answer 24

originally developed by Wolpe.

An application of reciprocal inhibition for eliminating anxiety responses.
Hierarchy-arranged anxiety-evoking events are paired with relaxation.

Question 25

Four stages to the systemic desensitization process:

Answer 25

1) relaxation training
2) construction of an anxiety hierarchy
3) desensitization in imagination
4) in vivo desensitization

Question 26

dismantling strategy

Answer 26

used to identify the mechanisms responsible for the benefits of systemic desensitization

involves comparing the effects of the various components of a treatment by administering different components to different groups of participants

Question 27

Research findings on systemic desensitization

Answer 27

extinction, or repeated exposure to the CS without the US, is the primary factor responsible for it’s effects (Bandura 1969)

Question 28

Behavioral sex therapy

Answer 28

Masters and Johnson’s (1970) sensate focus involves pairing situations that evoke performance anxiety with pleasurable physical sensations and relaxation.

research findings: most effective for treating preamture ejaculation (“squeeze technique”) and vaginismus (progressive dilators).

Question 29

When using _________, the maladaptive behavior associated with it (CS) is paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes pain or other unpleasant responses.

Answer 29

aversive counterconditioning

Question 30

In vivo aversion therapy

Answer 30

used to treat substance use, paraphilias, and self injurious behaviors.

Target behavior is paired with an aversive stimulus such as electric shock, bad odor, or emetic.

Question 31

paraphilias are best treated by

Answer 31

combining aversion therapy with orgasmic reconditioning, relapse prevention, etc

Question 32

covert sensitization

Answer 32

client imagines engaging in the maladaptive behavior and then imagines (rather than actually confronts) an aversive stimulus.

Question 33

covert sensitization

Answer 33

client imagines engaging in the maladaptive behavior and then imagines (rather than actually confronts) an aversive stimulus.

Question 33

The two-factor theory of learning (Mowrer, 1960)

Answer 33

proposes that the development of a phobic response is the result of both classical and operant conditioning.

Question 34

In vivo exposure with response prevention

Answer 34

client is exposed in “real life” to anxiety arousing stimuli for a prolonged period of time and is prohibited from making their usual avoidance or other anxiety reducing response.

Question 35

flooding

Answer 35

involves exposure to the most anxiety inducing stimuli for a prolonged period of time

Question 36

graduated (graded) exposure

Answer 36

begin with exposure to situations that produce minimal anxiety and then gradually progresses to situations that invoke increasingly more intense anxiety

Question 37

Findings on exposure

Answer 37

Prolonged continuous (massed) exposure > several brief sessions
short durations can actually make it worse

High anxiety provocation during exposure may not be necessary, tranquilizers are also good

self-directed exposure (following training by therapist)=therapist guided exposure

GRP = IND

Partner assisted exposure good for agoraphobia

Interoceptive exposure has been found effective for reducing panic attacks (inducing panic like symptoms)

Question 38

Implosive therapy

Answer 38

exposure conducted in imagination with psychodynamic interpretations

Question 39

EMDR findings

Answer 39

Davidson and Parker (2001) found that the “eye movements” weren’t as necessary and the benefits were from exposure.