Unit 6

Question 1

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors.

Answer 1

Learning

Question 2

An organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it.

Answer 2

Habituation

Question 3

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).

Answer 3

Associative Learning

Question 4

Any event or situation that evokes a response. `

Answer 4

Stimulus

Question 5

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language.

Answer 5

Cognitive learning

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Classical Conditioning

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Behaviorism

Question 8

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Answer 8

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Question 10

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response (UR).

Answer 10

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Conditioned Response (CR)

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Acquisition

Question 14

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one 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.

Answer 14

Higher-order Conditioning

Question 15

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 in no longer reinforced.

Answer 15

Extinction

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Generalization

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Discrimination

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Operant Conditioning

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Law of Effect

Question 21

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 animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

Answer 21

Operant Chamber

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Reinforcement

Question 23

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Answer 23

Shaping

Question 24

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicts a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement).

Answer 24

Discriminative Stimulus

Question 25

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Answer 25

Positive Reinforcement

Question 26

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Not a punishment)

Answer 26

Negative Reinforcement

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Primary Reinforcer

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Conditioned Reinforcer

Question 29

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

Answer 29

Reinforcement Schedule

Question 30

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Answer 30

Continuous Reinforcement

Question 31

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.

Answer 31

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Variable-Interval Schedule

Question 36

An event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows

Answer 36

Punishment

Question 37

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Answer 37

Respondent Behavior

Question 38

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Answer 38

Operant Behavior

Question 39

A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. For example, rats and mazes.

Answer 39

Cognitive Map

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Latent Learning

Question 41

A sudden realization of a problem’s solution.

Answer 41

Insight

Question 42

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

Answer 42

Intrinsic Motivation

Question 43

Alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods.

Answer 43

Coping

Question 44

Attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.

Answer 44

Problem-Focused Coping

Question 45

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress reaction.

Answer 45

Emotion-Focused Coping

Question 46

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

Answer 46

Learned Helplessness

Question 47

The perception that chance or outside forces beyond our control determine our fate.

Answer 47

External Locus of Control

Question 48

The perception that you control your own fate.

Answer 48

Internal Locus of Control

Question 49

The ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards.

Answer 49

Self-Control

Question 50

Learning by observing others. Also called social learning.

Answer 50

Observational Learning

Question 51

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Answer 51

Modeling

Question 52

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

Answer 52

Mirror Neurons

Question 53

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. the opposite of antisocial behavior.

Answer 53

Prosocial Behavior

Question 54

A system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure and muscle tension.

Answer 54

Biofeedback

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Extrinsic Motivation