Unit 4 Learning

Question 1

associative learning

Answer 1

learning that
certain events occur together. The
events may be two stimuli (as in classical
conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

a type of
learning in which one learns to link two
or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Question 3

behaviorism

Answer 3

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science
that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research
psychologists today agree with (1) but
not with (2)

Question 4

unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 4

in
classical conditioning, the unlearned,
naturally occurring response to the
unconditioned stimulus (US), such as
salivation when food is in the mouth.

Question 5

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 5

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that
unconditionally—naturally and
automatically—triggers a response

Question 6

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 6

) in classical conditioning, the learned response to
a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

Question 7

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 7

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant
stimulus that, after association with an
unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to
trigger a conditioned response.

Question 8

:acquisition

Answer 8

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 9

:higher-order conditioning

Answer 9

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus
in one conditioning experience is paired
with a new neutral stimulus, creating a
second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has
learned that a tone predicts food might
then learn that a light predicts the tone
and begin responding to the light alone.
(Also called second-order conditioning.)

Question 10

extinction

Answer 10

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical
conditioning when an unconditioned
stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant
conditioning when a response is no
longer reinforced.

Question 11

spontaneous recovery

Answer 11

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

Question 12

generalization

Answer 12

the tendency, once a
response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to
elicit similar responses.

Question 13

discrimination

Answer 13

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish
between a conditioned stimulus and
stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 14

respondent behavior

Answer 14

behavior that
occurs as an automatic response to
some stimulus

Question 15

operant conditioning

Answer 15

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if
followed by a reinforcer or diminished if
followed by a punisher

Question 16

operant behavior

Answer 16

behavior that
operates on the environment, producing
consequences.

Question 17

law of effect

Answer 17

Thorndike’s principle
that behaviors followed by favorable
consequences become more likely, and
that behaviors followed by unfavorable
consequences become less likely.

Question 18

operant chamber

Answer 18

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known
as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key
that an animal can manipulate to obtain
a food or water reinforcer; attached
devices record the animal’s rate of bar
pressing or key pecking.

Question 19

shaping

Answer 19

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Question 20

reinforcer

Answer 20

in operant conditioning,
any event that strengthens the behavior
it follows.

Question 21

positive reinforcement

Answer 21

increasing
behaviors by presenting positive stimuli,
such as food. A positive reinforcer is any
stimulus that, when presented after a
response, strengthens the response

Question 22

negative reinforcement

Answer 22

increasing
behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative
reinforcer is any stimulus that, when
removed after a response, strengthens
the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

Question 23

primary reinforcer

Answer 23

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Question 24

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 24

a stimulus
that gains its reinforcing power through
its association with a primary reinforcer;
also known as a secondary reinforcer.

Question 25

continuous reinforcement

Answer 25

reinforcing the desired response every time it
occurs.

Question 26

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 26

reinforcing a response only part of the
time; results in slower acquisition of a
response but much greater resistance to
extinction than does continuous
reinforcement.

Question 27

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 27

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that
reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Question 28

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 28

in operant
conditioning, a reinforcement schedule
that reinforces a response after an
unpredictable number of responses.

Question 29

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 29

in operant
conditioning, a reinforcement schedule
that reinforces a response only after a
specified time has elapsed.

Question 30

variable-interval schedule

Answer 30

in operant
conditioning, a reinforcement schedule
that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Question 31

punishment

Answer 31

an event that decreases
the behavior that it follows.

Question 32

cognitive map

Answer 32

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment.
For example, after exploring a maze, rats
act as if they have learned a cognitive
map of it.

Question 33

latent learning

Answer 33

learning that occurs
but is not apparent until there is an
incentive to demonstrate it.

Question 34

intrinsic motivation

Answer 34

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own
sake.

Question 35

extrinsic motivation

Answer 35

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

Question 36

observational learning

Answer 36

learning by
observing others.

Question 37

modeling

Answer 37

the process of observing
and imitating a specific behavior.

Question 38

mirror neurons

Answer 38

frontal lobe neurons
that fire when performing certain actions
or when observing another doing so. The
brain’s mirroring of another’s action may
enable imitation and empathy.

Question 39

prosocial behavior

Answer 39

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite
of antisocial behavior.