Unit 6: Module 26 - 27

Question 1

The process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Answer 1

Learning

Question 2

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus

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 consequence (as in operant conditioning)

Answer 3

Associative Learning

Question 4

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Answer 4

Stimulus

Question 5

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Answer 5

Respondent Behavior

Question 6

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Answer 6

Operant Behavior

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Cognitive Learning

Question 8

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classical experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food)

Answer 8

Classical Conditioning

Question 9

The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most researcher psychologists agree with the former, but not with the latter.

Answer 9

Behaviorism

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Conditioned Response (CR)

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Question 15

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.

Answer 15

Acquisition

Question 16

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 begins responding to the light alone (Also called Second-Order Conditioning)

Answer 16

Higher-Order Conditioning

Question 17

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 conditioned when a response is no longer reinforced

Answer 17

Extinction

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Spontaneous Recovery

Question 19

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli to the similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (In operant conditioning, this event occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situations.)

Answer 19

Generalization

Question 20

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus. (In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced.)

Answer 20

Discrimination

Question 21

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher.

Answer 21

Operant Conditioning

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Law of Effect

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Operant Chamber

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Reinforcement

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Shaping

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Discriminative Stimulus

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Positive Reinforcement

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Negative Reinforcement

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Primary Reinforcer

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Conditioned Reinforcer

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Reinforcement Schedule

Question 32

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Answer 32

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedule

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Variable-Interval Schedule

Question 38

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that follows

Answer 38

Punishment