Unit 6 Exam

Question 1

habituation

Answer 1

an organisms decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it.

Question 2

associative learning

Answer 2

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 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

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

Question 4

behaviorism

Answer 4

the 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 5

unconditioned response (ur)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus (us)

Answer 6

a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response

Question 7

conditioned response (cr)

Answer 7

the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (cs)

Question 8

conditioned stimulus (cs)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

acquisition

Answer 9

in classical conditioning, 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 10

higher-order conditioning

Answer 10

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

Question 11

extinction

Answer 11

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 enforced

Question 12

spontaneous recovery

Answer 12

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

Question 13

generalization

Answer 13

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

Question 14

discrimination

Answer 14

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

Question 15

learned helplessness

Answer 15

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

Question 16

respondent behavior

Answer 16

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli

Question 17

operant conditioning

Answer 17

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

Question 18

operant behavior

Answer 18

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Question 19

law of effect

Answer 19

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

Question 20

operant chamber

Answer 20

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 21

shaping

Answer 21

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

Question 22

discriminative stimulus

Answer 22

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

Question 23

reinforcer

Answer 23

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

Question 24

positive reinforcement

Answer 24

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

Question 25

negative reinforcement

Answer 25

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. negative reinforcement is not punishment

Question 26

primary reinforcer

Answer 26

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

Question 27

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 27

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

Question 28

continuous reinforcement

Answer 28

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Question 29

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 29

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 30

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 30

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

Question 31

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 31

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

Question 32

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 32

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

Question 33

variable-interval schedule

Answer 33

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

Question 34

punishment

Answer 34

an event that decreases the behavior it follows

Question 35

cognitive map

Answer 35

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 36

latent learning

Answer 36

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

Question 37

insight

Answer 37

a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem

Question 38

intrinsic motivation

Answer 38

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Question 39

extrinsic motivation

Answer 39

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

Question 40

observational learning

Answer 40

learning by observing others. Also called social learning

Question 41

modeling

Answer 41

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Question 42

mirror neurons

Answer 42

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 43

prosocial behavior

Answer 43

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of anti-social behavior

Question 44

Albert Bandura

Answer 44

Bobo doll guy. Children learn through imitation. Antisocial models have antisocial effects, pro social models have pro social effects.

Question 45

John Garcia

Answer 45

Conditioned Taste Aversions.

Question 46

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 46

Father of Classical Conditioning. Dogs and their saliva

Question 47

Robert Rescorla

Answer 47

interested in instrumental learning

Question 48

B.F. Skinner

Answer 48

Operant Conditioning. Skinner box, positive / negative reinforcement

Question 49

Edward Thorndike

Answer 49

Reinforcement is more effective than punishment.

Question 50

Edward Tolman

Answer 50

Behaviorist. Non-reinforcement theorist.

Question 51

John B. Watson

Answer 51

Used Classical Conditioning towards advertising. Created the coffee break.