Module 4B: Learning

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

change in behavior or knowledge that is the result of experience

Question 2

associative learning

Answer 2

form of learning that involves connecting certain stimuli or events that occur together in
the environment (classical and operant conditioning)

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

learning in which the stimulus or experience occurs before the behavior and then gets
paired or associated with the behavior

Question 4

neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 4

stimulus that does not initially elicit a response

Question 5

unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 5

natural (unlearned) behavior to a given stimulus

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 6

stimulus that elicits a reflexive response

Question 7

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 7

response caused by the conditioned stimulus

Question 8

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 8

stimulus that elicits a response due to its being paired with an unconditioned
stimulus

Question 9

acquisition

Answer 9

period of initial learning in classical conditioning in which a human or an animal begins to
connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus will begin to elicit
the conditioned response

Question 10

extinction

Answer 10

decrease in the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer paired with
the conditioned stimulus

Question 11

spontaneous recovery

Answer 11

return of a previously extinguished conditioned response

Question 12

operant conditioning

Answer 12

form of learning in which the stimulus/experience happens after the behavior is demonstrated

Question 13

reinforcement

Answer 13

implementation of a consequence in order to increase a behavior

Question 14

shaping

Answer 14

rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior

Question 15

positive reinforcement

Answer 15

adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior

Question 16

negative reinforcement

Answer 16

taking away an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior

Question 17

primary reinforcer

Answer 17

has innate reinforcing qualities (e.g., food, water, shelter, sex)

Question 18

continuous reinforcement

Answer 18

rewarding a behavior every time it occurs

Question 19

partial reinforcement

Answer 19

rewarding behavior only some of the time

Question 20

fixed ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 20

set number of responses must occur before a behavior is rewarded

Question 21

variable ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 21

number of responses differ before a behavior is rewarded

Question 22

fixed interval reinforcement schedule

Answer 22

behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time

Question 23

variable interval reinforcement schedule

Answer 23

behavior is rewarded after unpredictable amounts of time have passed

Question 24

punishment

Answer 24

implementation of a consequence in order to decrease a behavior

Question 25

observational learning

Answer 25

type of learning that occurs by watching others

Question 26

model

Answer 26

person who performs a behavior that serves as an example (in observational learning)

Question 27

vicarious punishment

Answer 27

process where the observer sees the model punished, making the observer less likely to imitate the model’s behavior

Question 28

vicarious reinforcement

Answer 28

process where the observer sees the model rewarded, making the observer more likely to imitate the model’s behavior