Lecture 6 - Learning Theory

Question 1

What is classic conditioning?

Answer 1

Learning to link two stimuli in a way that helps us anticipate an event to which we have a reaction

Question 2

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 2

Changing behavior choices in response to consequences

Question 3

What is social learning?

Answer 3

Acquiring new behaviors and information through observation and information, rather than by direct experience

Question 4

How does classical conditioning work?

Answer 4

After repeated stimuli occurring in sequence, we associate the two stimuli together

Question 5

What is the result of classic conditioning?

Answer 5

Our natural response to one stimuli can now be triggered by the new, predictive stimulus

Question 6

What did Watson and Skinner believe about mental life?

Answer 6

They believed that mental life was much less important than behavior as a foundation for psychological science

Question 7

What experiment did Ivan Pavlov conduct?

Answer 7

A classical conditioning experiment that observed dog salivation responses

Question 8

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 8

A stimulus which does not trigger a response

Question 9

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 9

A stimulus that leads an automatic response

Question 10

What is an unconditioned response?

Answer 10

An automatic response to a stimulus

Question 11

What is a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 11

A stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response

Question 12

What is a conditioned response?

Answer 12

A learned response to a previously neutral stimuli

Question 13

How are the unconditioned response and conditioned response different?

Answer 13

They are the same response, with the only difference being their triggers

Question 14

How are the neutral stimulus and conditioned stimulus different?

Answer 14

They are the same stimulus, with the only difference being whether it triggers the conditioned response

Question 15

What is higher order conditioning?

Answer 15

The conditioned stimulus is triggered by a new conditioned stimulus, which leads to the conditioned response being triggered

Question 16

What is generalization in classical conditioning?

Answer 16

The tendency to have conditioned responses triggered by related stimuli

Question 17

What is discrimination in classical conditioning?

Answer 17

The learned ability to only respond to specific stimuli, preventing generalization

Question 18

What is acquisition in classical conditioning?

Answer 18

The initial stage of learning/conditioning

Question 19

What gets acquired in classical conditioning?

Answer 19

The association between the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus

Question 20

What is the timing required for classical conditioning?

Answer 20

The neutral stimulus must repeatedly occur before the unconditioned stimulus at around 0.5 sec

Question 21

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 21

The diminishing of conditioned response

Question 22

What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

Answer 22

The conditioned stimulus has been extinguished, and, after a rest period, triggers the conditioned response with a lack of further conditioning

Question 23

What was John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner’s classical conditioning experiment?

Answer 23

They banged a steel bar every time a rat was presented to teach an infant to fear them

Question 24

How are classical and operant conditioning similar?

Answer 24

They are both associative learning

Question 25

What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?

Answer 25

States that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become more unlikely

Question 26

What did B.F. Skinner study?

Answer 26

How to more carefully measure the effect of consequences on chosen behavior

Question 27

What did B.F. Skinner create?

Answer 27

An operant chamber that allows for more controlled methods of studying conditioning

Question 28

What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 28

Any feedback from the environment that makes behavior more likely to occur

Question 29

What is discrimination in operant conditioning?

Answer 29

More specificity in what situations trigger a response

Question 30

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 30

Stimulus that meets a basic need or is intrinsically desirable

Question 31

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 31

Stimulus when it has become associated with the primary reinforcer

Question 32

What is a fixed interval schedule?

Answer 32

Reward after the same amount of time passes

Question 33

What is a variable interval schedule?

Answer 33

Reward after a random amount of time passes

Question 34

What is a fixed ratio schedule?

Answer 34

Reward after the same number of targeted behaviors

Question 35

What is a variable ratio schedule?

Answer 35

Reward after randomly chosen instance of targeted behavior

Question 36

What is a positive punishment?

Answer 36

An aversive response to undesired behavior with a rationale

Question 37

What is negative punishment?

Answer 37

Ending undesired behavior for a stated reason

Question 38

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 38

Providing reward after desired behavior

Question 39

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 39

Withdrawing or removing the aversive experience

Question 40

What is latent learning?

Answer 40

Skills and knowledge gained from experience but not apparent in behavior until rewards are given

Question 41

What is intrinsic motivation?

Answer 41

The desire to perform behavior well for its own sake

Question 42

What is extrinsic motivation?

Answer 42

Doing a behavior to receive rewards from others

Question 43

What did Albert Bandura study?

Answer 43

Observational learning

Question 44

What is observational learning?

Answer 44

Watching what happens when other people do a behavior and learning from experience

Question 45

What is prosocial behavior?

Answer 45

Actions that benefit others (moral codes and social norms)