Staats Chapter 17: The Mediation Hypothesis

Question 1

Sign-Process

Answer 1

Stimulus-object becomes conditioned to the sign (the word “spider”)

With repetition sign-process, autonomic reactions continue from the unpleasant meaning of threat from the word

Sign-process is not made only for semantics, but also applies to general theory of learning

Question 2

Mediating Reaction

Answer 2

Pattern of self-simulation which can elicit a variety of overt behaviors
e.g. shivering; “ugh!”

Question 3

Mediation Hypothesis

Answer 3

Anticipatory portions of the behavior become short-circuited to the sign

Question 4

Assigns

Answer 4

Verbal signs where the meaning is “assigned” to other signs via association

Association is not with objects, but with other signs

Can be associated with a variety of signs

Question 5

Example

Answer 5

Phonetic reading with the children:

Stimulus patterns that become signs of objects are generally auditory

Children learn to read–the stimulus patterns are assigns:

The visual patterns [the word “spider”] are rarely directly associated with the object signified [the spider itself], but instead with auditory signs and occasionally other visual symbols

The quicker the child learns the correct sound for the visual stimulus, the quicker the visual assign gains meaning