Vocab

Question 1

Determinism

Answer 1

The assumption that natural events are caused by other natural events (i.e., functional relations exist).

Question 2

Empiricism

Answer 2

The philosophical position that knowledge is gained through observation.

Question 3

Experimentation

Answer 3

The process through which functional relations are discovered by evaluating the effect of independent variables on dependent variables.

Question 4

Replication

Answer 4

The repeating of experiments that lead to a progressive, self-correcting process

Question 5

Parsimony

Answer 5

The notion that, all things being equal, the simplest explanation is the best.

Question 6

Pragmatism

Answer 6

The meaning of an assumption is to be found in the practical consequences of accepting it

Question 7

Philosophic doubt (i.e., skepticism)

Answer 7

An attitude that the validity of all scientific theory and knowledge should be questioned.

Question 8

Selectionism

Answer 8

Variation in behavior/physical traits can be accounted for in terms of variation, selection, and retention.

Question 9

Phylogeny

Answer 9

The evolutionary history of a species.

Question 10

Ontogeny

Answer 10

The life history of an individual organism.

Question 11

Behavior

Answer 11

Anything the organism does; any action of the muscles or glands.

Question 12

Response

Answer 12

An instance of behavior.

Question 13

Response class

Answer 13

A group of responses that have the same function (i.e., effect on the environment). Note: Responses can vary in form.

Question 14

Environment

Answer 14

The entire constellation of stimuli that can affect behavior.

Question 15

Stimulus

Answer 15

Any event that affects behavior.

Question 16

Stimulus class

Answer 16

A group of stimuli that have the same function (i.e., effect on behavior). Note: Stimuli can vary in form.

Question 17

Antecedent

Answer 17

An event that precedes a response.

Question 18

Consequence

Answer 18

An event that follows a response.

Question 19

Respondent behavior

Answer 19

Behavior elicited by stimuli and insensitive to consequences

Question 20

Respondent conditioning

Answer 20

The process by which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit behavior after being paired with an eliciting stimulus.

Question 21

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Answer 21

An environmental event which brings about no change in behavior.

Question 22

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 22

A stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response,

Question 23

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 23

A response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus. Also known as a reflex. No learning or conditioning is necessary; instead, it is a product of phylogenic history.

Question 24

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 24

A stimulus that elicits a response as a function of its paring with another eliciting stimulus.

Question 25

Conditioned response (CR)

Answer 25

A response that is elicited by a conditioned stimulus.

Question 26

Respondent extinction

Answer 26

Breaking the pairing between conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus, such that the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response.

Question 27

Habituation

Answer 27

A reduction, over repeated presentations, in the respondent behavior elicited by a stimulus.

Question 28

Sensitization

Answer 28

An increase, over repeated presentations, in the respondent behavior elicited by a stimulus.

Question 29

Operant Behavior

Answer 29

Any behavior sensitive to manipulations of consequences.

Question 30

Operant Conditioning

Answer 30

The process by which the likelihood of behavior is modified through manipulation of consequences.

Question 31

Reinforcement

Answer 31

The behavioral process by which a stimulus change contingent on a response increases the future probability of that response.

Question 32

Punishment

Answer 32

The behavioral process by which a stimulus change contingent on a response decreases the future probability of that response.

Question 33

Positive reinforcement

Answer 33

The behavioral process by which the delivery of a stimulus contingent on a response increases the future probability of that response.

Question 34

Negative reinforcement

Answer 34

The behavioral process by which the removal of a stimulus contingent on a response increases the future probability of that response.

Question 35

Positive punishment

Answer 35

The behavioral process by which the delivery of a stimulus contingent on a response decreases the future probability of that response

Question 36

Negative punishment

Answer 36

The behavioral process by which the removal of a stimulus contingent on a response decreases the future probability of that response

Question 37

Operant extinction

Answer 37

The withholding of a reinforcer previously contingent on a response that results in a decrease in the probability of that response.

Question 38

Two consequence processes that increase the future probability of behavior:

Answer 38

Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement

Question 39

Three consequence processes that decrease the future probability of behavior:

Answer 39

Positive Punishment, Negative Punishment, and Operant Extinction

Question 40

Discriminative stimulus (SD)

Answer 40

A stimulus that differentially signals the availability of reinforcement for responding. This stimulus sets the occasion for (i.e., increases the likelihood of) behavior because of a history of reinforcement for responding in the presence of the stimulus.