Flashcards and Answers – Chapter 6 –

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
learning
answer
A systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience.
question
behaviorism
answer
A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as thinking, wishing, and hoping.
question
associative learning
answer
Learning that occurs when we make a connection, or an association, between two events.
question
conditioning
answer
The process of learning the associations maintained in associative learning.
question
classical conditioning
answer
Organisms learn the association between two stimuli. As a result of this association, organisms learn to anticipate events.
question
operant conditioning
answer
Organisms learn the association between a behavior and a consequence, such as a reward. As a result of this association, organisms learn to increase behaviors that are followed by rewards and to decrease behaviors that are followed by punishment.
question
observational learning
answer
Learning that occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior.
question
classical conditioning
answer
Learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response.
question
reflexes
answer
Automatic stimulus-response connections.
question
unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
answer
A stimulus that produces a response without prior learning.
question
unconditioned response (UCR)
answer
An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.
question
conditioned stimulus (CS)
answer
A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
question
conditioned response (CR)
answer
The learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus pairing.
question
acquisition
answer
The initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired.
question
contiguity
answer
The CS and UCS are presented very close together in time - even a mere fraction of a second.
question
contingency
answer
The CS must not only precede the UCS closely in time, but it must also serve as a reliable indicator that the UCS is on its way.
question
generalization (in classical conditioning)
answer
The tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response.
question
discrimination (in classical conditioning)
answer
The process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others.
question
extinction (in classical conditioning)
answer
The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent.
question
spontaneous recovery
answer
The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning.
question
renewal
answer
The recovery of the conditioned response when an organism is placed in a novel context.
question
counterconditioning
answer
A classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.
question
aversive conditioning
answer
A form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.
question
placebo effect
answer
The effect of a substance or procedure that is used as a control to identify the actual effects of a treatment.
question
immunosuppression
answer
A decrease in the production of antibodies that can come from classical conditioning.
question
taste aversion
answer
A special kind of classical conditioning involving the learned association between a particular taste and nausea.
question
habituation
answer
Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations.
question
respondent behavior
answer
Behavior that occurs in automatic response to a stimulus such as a nausea-producing drug, and later to a conditioned stimulus such as sweet water that was paired with the drug.
question
operant conditioning
answer
Also called instrumental conditioning, a form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence.
question
law of effect
answer
Thorndike's law stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and that behaviors followed by negative outcomes are weakened.
question
shaping
answer
Rewarding approximations of a desired behavior.
question
reinforcement
answer
The process by which a rewarding stimulus or event following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again.
question
positive reinforcement
answer
An increase in the frequency of a behavior in response to the subsequent presentation of something that is good.
question
negative reinforcement
answer
An increase in the frequency of a behavior in response to the subsequent removal of something that is unpleasant.
question
avoidance learning
answer
An organism's learning that it can altogether avoid a negative stimulus by making a particle response.
question
learned helplessness
answer
An organism's learning through experience with unavoidable negative stimuli that it has no control over negative outcomes.
question
primary reinforcer
answer
A reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism's part to make it pleasurable.
question
secondary reinforcer
answer
A reinforcer that acquires its positive value through an organism's experience.
question
generalization (in operant conditioning)
answer
Performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation.
question
discrimination (in operant conditioning)
answer
Responding appropriately to stimuli that signal that a behavior will or will not be reinforced.
question
extinction (in operant conditioning)
answer
Decreases in the frequency of a behavior when the behavior is no longer reinforced.
question
continuous reinforcement
answer
A behavior is reinforced every time it occurs.
question
partial reinforcement
answer
A reinforcer follows a behavior only a portion of the time.
question
schedules of reinforcement
answer
Specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced.
question
ratio schedules
answer
Involve the number of behaviors that must be performed prior to reward.
question
interval schedules
answer
Refer to the amount of time that must pass before a behavior is rewarded.
question
fixed-ratio schedule
answer
Reinforces behavior after a set number of behaviors.
question
variable-ratio schedule
answer
A timetable in which behaviors are rewarded an average number of times but on an unpredictable basis.
question
fixed-interval schedule
answer
Reinforces the first behavior after a fixed amount of time has passed.
question
variable-interval schedule
answer
A timetable in which a behavior is reinforced after a variable amount of time has elapsed.
question
punishment
answer
A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur.
question
positive punishment
answer
The presentation of an unpleasant stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior.
question
negative punishment
answer
The removal of a positive stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior.
question
applied behavior analysis
answer
Also called behavior modification, the use of operant conditioning principles to change human behavior.
question
latent learning
answer
Also called implicit learning, unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior.
question
insight learning
answer
A form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of a problem's solution.
question
instinctive drift
answer
The tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning.
question
preparedness
answer
The species-specific biological predisposition to learn in certain ways but not others.
question
mindset
answer
Describes the way our beliefs about ability dictate what goals we set for ourselves, what we think we can learn, and ultimately what we do learn.
question
fixed mindset
answer
An individual believes that his or her qualities are carved in stone and cannot change.
question
growth mindset
answer
An individual believes that his or her qualities can change and improve through his or her effort.
question
purposive
answer
One cognitive factor of learning, the idea that much of behavior is goal-directed.
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New