Unit 3: Learning

Question 1

classical conditioning

Answer 1

a type of learning where one learns to link stimuli and events

Question 2

habituation

Answer 2

decreased response to a stimulus due to repeated exposure

Question 3

associative learning

Answer 3

certain events occur together

Question 4

behaviorism

Answer 4

view that psychology should study behavior without reference to the mental process

Question 5

neutral stimulus

Answer 5

elicits no response before conditioning

Question 6

unconditioned response

Answer 6

unlearned behavior, naturally occuring to us

Question 7

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 7

naturally triggers a response

Question 8

conditioned response

Answer 8

learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

Question 9

conditioned stimulus

Answer 9

an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus triggers a conditioned response

Question 10

acquisition

Answer 10

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response

Question 11

extinction

Answer 11

diminishing of a conditioned response

Question 12

spontaneous recovery

Answer 12

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Question 13

generalization

Answer 13

tendency for similar conditioned stimuli to evoke a similar response

Question 14

discrimination

Answer 14

learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Question 15

law of effect

Answer 15

behaviors followed by favorable consequences will become more likely and vice versa

Question 16

operant conditioning

Answer 16

type of learning where behavior is strengthened by reinforcers and diminished by punishments

Question 17

shaping

Answer 17

procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Question 18

discriminative stimulus

Answer 18

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Question 19

respondent behavior

Answer 19

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Question 20

operant behavior

Answer 20

behavior that operates on the environment, providing consequences

Question 21

preparedness

Answer 21

the predispositions that affect learning

Question 22

instinctive drift

Answer 22

tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predispositioned patterns

Question 23

latent learning

Answer 23

learning that occurs but is not apparent until an incentive is present

Question 24

intrinsic motivation

Answer 24

desire to perform behavior for it’s own sake

Question 25

extrinsic motivation

Answer 25

desire to perform behavior to receive promised rewards or to avoid threatened punishment

Question 26

problem-focused coping

Answer 26

alleviating stress by challenging stressor

Question 27

emotion-focused coping

Answer 27

alleviating stress by attending to emotional needs

Question 28

learned helplessness

Answer 28

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

Question 29

external locus of control

Answer 29

perception that outside forces determine fate

Question 30

internal locus of control

Answer 30

perception that you control your own fate

Question 31

positive reinforcement

Answer 31

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli; any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Question 32

negative reinforcement

Answer 32

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: not punishment.)

Question 33

positive punishment

Answer 33

the administration of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring

Question 34

negative punishment

Answer 34

the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring

Question 35

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 35

reinforcement after a specific time has elapsed

Question 36

variable-interval schedule

Answer 36

reinforcement unpredictable amount of time has elapsed

Question 37

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 37

reinforcement after specific number of responses

Question 38

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 38

reinforcement after unpredictable number of responses