PSYCH2750: EXAM 3

Question 1

What are behaviorism’s core assumptions?

Question 3

Empiricism

Answer 3

The idea that all learning comes from only experience and observations.
-Knowledge is attained via the senses
-Tabula rasa (clean slate) on which experience leaves its mark
-Learning processes are innate

Question 4

The science of behavior (behavioral-conditioning)

Answer 4

Psychology = Behavior
Psychology (DOES NOT = ) mental, internal events.

-mental, internal events are not determinants of behavior

Question 5

Methods to study/ how behavioral conditioning

Answer 5

1. directly observable/ measurable
   - behavior & situations are external, observable, measurable
2. Objectivity of measurement
   - Verifiable by different observers
3. Experimentation
   -Control & manipulate conditions, measure behavior

Question 6

Research questions for behavioral conditioning

Answer 6

1. How is personality and a person’s behavior influenced by their learning history?
2. How do people learn? What are the principles of learning?
3. Can we use this knowledge to create therapeutic treatments to change behaviors?

Question 7

Classical Conditioning (behavioral conditioning lecture)

Answer 7

-Classical (or Pavlovian, associative) Conditioning is involuntary responses (physiological, automatic responses) become associated with and triggered by a neutral stimuli.

Question 8

Elements of classical conditioning (behavioral conditioning lecture)

Answer 8

-Preexisting reflex (involuntary response; UR) associated with an environmental stimulus (US).
-Neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired in time and space with environmental stimulus (US)
-With repeated pairings, neutral stimulus takes on the eliciting properties of US.

Question 9

Benefit of Classical Conditioning (associative learning)

Answer 9

1. Helps organisms predict future events (backward conditioning DOES NOT work: Food –> Bell)
   -Forward conditioning does work = Bell –> Food
2. Does not require conscious processing; conditioning history can influence behavior without awareness

Question 10

What factors affect learning: strength of association
(CS –> CR)

Answer 10

-Timing between US and CS
-Greater number of pairings between US and CS
- Stronger unconditioned stimulus