Module 2 Chapter 5 Learning

According to Thorndike's law of effect

-Behaviors followed by bad results are less likely to occur -Behaviors followed by good results are more likely to occur again.

Define Punishment

A stimulus that decreases the probability that a previous behavior will occur again.

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that produces a response without prior learning.

learning

A systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience.

behaviorism

A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as thinking, wishing, and hoping.

Two students are in the same degree program at their college. Alison has a growth mindset, and Marissa has a fixed mindset. Based on this information, which one is more likely to succeed in her studies?

Alison, because will be more likely to take active steps to improve her skills and learn from mistakes

unconditioned response (UCR)

An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.

An____________ response is an unlearned response that is automatically elicited by a stimulus that produces a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned response

latent learning (implicit learning)

Unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior.

A supervisor comes into the workplace to check on her employees every hour and a half. An observer notices that the workers increase their work behavior about 10 minutes before the supervisor arrives and then decrease their work behavior after she leaves. What type of reinforcement schedule are the workers on?

a fixed-interval schedule

Irinia's dog loves to go for walks, and she always puts a leash on him when they go out. The dog used to wag his tail as soon as they got outside, but now he wags his tail when she picks up the leash. The period of time in which the dog learned to associate the leash with walks is called

acquisition

It's Sarah's first day at a new job. She watches Jim use the clock to punch in for work. After seeing him take his time card out of his slot, place it in the machine, stamp it and then return it to his slot, Sarah decides that she will try to use the machine herself. Sarah has used what method of learning?

Observational Learning

generalization (operant conditioning)

Performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation.

Innate reinforcers that satisfy biological needs (food, water, sex etc) are called ___________ reinforcers

Primary Reinforcers

discrimination (operant conditioning)

Responding appropriately to stimuli that signal that a behavior will or will not be reinforced.

shaping

Rewarding approximations of a desired behavior.

Gavin recently went deep-sea fishing with some friends. Unfortunately, Gavin was extremely seasick the entire time he was on the boat, and now when he sees boats, he feels queasy. In this situation, the conditioned stimulus is the

boat

Gavin recently went deep-sea fishing with some friends. Unfortunately, Gavin was extremely seasick the entire time he was on the boat, and now when he sees boats, he feels queasy. This is an example of

classical conditioning

After Meg eats hamburger for the first time, she gets sick and vomits. The next time someone asks Meg if she wants a hamburger, she feels so nauseated she actually vomits. Meg has a

conditioned taste aversion.

Juan developed a fear of dogs after being attacked by one. His counselor helped him to overcome this fear by teaching him to relax in the presence of dogs. Eventually, he was no longer afraid of dogs. Which of the following processes occurred?

counter conditioning

Which of the following is a primary reinforcer?

eating some delicious ice cream

You have trained your dog to bark on command by giving her rawhides when she is successful. However, you quit giving her the rawhides when she barks and you find that eventually she will not bark on command. What has occurred?

extinction

Some people believe that their abilities cannot be changed. This is known as a(n)

fixed mindset.

Irinia's dog loves to go for walks, and she always puts a leash on him when they go out. The dog used to wag his tail as soon as they got outside, but now he wags his tail when she picks up the leash. In this case, what is the unconditioned stimulus?

going for a walk

After studying a psychological concept for some time, Vatana still has not been able to grasp the concept. However, while she is driving to work, she has an "ah-ha!" moment and the concept finally makes complete sense to her. Vatana has experienced

insight learning.

Behaviors tend to be MOST resistant to extinction when the reinforcement

is unpredictable.

Kalliyan has taken the same route home from work for years, but today the road is closed due to an accident. Kalliyan has an important work presentation that she can't miss, so she takes a back road that she knows is there but has never used. She is displaying

latent learning

Observation learning is also known as

modeling and imitation

When a teenager gets poor grades, his father takes away his cell phone. This consequence is a

negative punishment.

Horatio's mother has been nagging him for weeks to clean the garage. When he does so, his mother's nagging ceases. When she stops nagging, Horatio experiences

negative reinforcement.

Which brain structure has been shown to be related to learning through reinforcement?

nucleus accumbens

One of the students in your class often asks questions of your professor. You see that the professor rolls her eyes each time the student asks a question. You find that you are reluctant to ask the professor a question. What have you experienced?

observational learning

Dogs are often used in airports to detect explosives materials and/or narcotics. Their trainers teach them to smell out a certain substance by rewarding them with treats for correctly identifying a substance. In what type of learning are the dogs engaging?

operant conditioning

Sonia's mother is often busy and doesn't pay very much attention to her. When Sonia cries or screams, her mother comes over and scolds her. Though she doesn't like being scolded, Sonia prefers some attention to no attention at all. Sonia learns that when she wants her mother's attention, she should scream or cry. What kind of learning is this?

operant conditioning

Robert had a serious car accident while Mozart was playing on his stereo. Now, every time Robert hears a Mozart song, he feels frightened and panicked. What is the unconditioned stimulus?

The car accident

Tamara normally feeds her cat canned cat food. She noticed that every time she uses her electric can opener, her cat comes to the kitchen. What is the conditioned stimulus?

The cat coming to the kitchen

When a child hears a loud noise, he cries. The family's dog often barks loudly. Each time the child sees the dog, he cries. What is the conditioned response?

The crying

Define Classical Conditioning

The form of associative learning in which a neutral stimulus is associated with a stimulus to which the subject has an automatic, inborn response.

Acquisition

The initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired.

conditioned response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus pairing.

positive reinforcement

The presentation of a rewarding stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior.

positive punishment

The presentation of an unpleasant stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior.

reinforcement

The process by which a rewarding stimulus or event (a reinforcer) following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again.

Define reinforcement

The process by which a stimulus increases the probability that a preceding behavior will be repeated.

spontaneous recovery

The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning.

discrimination (classical conditioning)

The process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others.

renewal

The recovery of the conditioned response when the organism is placed in a novel context.

negative punishment

The removal of a positive stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior.

negative reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior.

preparedness

The species-specific biological predisposition to learn in certain ways but not others.

generalization (classical conditioning)

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.

instinctive drift

The tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning.

Which of the following statements is correct? Classical conditioning focuses on involuntary responses, while operant conditioning focuses on voluntary behaviors. Classical conditioning is involved with negative outcomes, while operant conditioning is involved with positive outcomes. Extinction occurs in classical conditioning, but not in operant conditioning. Shaping occurs in classical conditioning, but not in operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning focuses on involuntary responses, while operant conditioning focuses on voluntary behaviors.

By ringing a bell whenever he gave food to his lab dogs, Pavlov eventually got the dogs to salivate to the sound of the bell. In this context the salivation elicited by the sound of the bell is called the ____________ response.

Conditioned response

In Pavlov's work on classical conditioning with dogs, the bell became a(n) ____________ because it was originally neutral but it became paired with the UC (food)

Conditioned stimulus

Robert developed a conditioned response of fear and anxiety to hearing music by Mozart. If he were to have the same response to any classical music, it would be called

Generalization

Janice is trying to teach her dog to heel, so she buys a choke collar. Every time the dog strains on the leash, the collar restricts around his neck. When the dog drops back to walk beside her, the collar loosens up. In theory, this should cause the dog to learn to walk beside Janice. What type of consequence does the dog experience when he strains on the leash?

positive punishment

Applied behavior analysis (behavior modification)

The use of operant conditioning principles to change human behavior.

extinction (classical conditioning)

The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent.

law of effect

Thorndike's law stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and that behaviors followed by negative outcomes are weakened.

What is the abbreviation for "unconditioned response"?

UCR

Troy would like to teach his dog to play a toy piano. Since the dog is unlikely to spontaneously begin playing the piano, Troy first rewards his dog for going near the piano, then for touching the piano, then for pressing on one of the keys of the piano, and so on until the dog is able to play a simple tune. This process is called

shaping

Bryn adopted her cat, Minnie, from the local shelter. She feeds Minnie dry food, but the previous owner fed her canned food. Every time Bryn opens her refrigerator, her new cat comes running. Bryn never gives Minnie food after she opens the refrigerator, however, so eventually Minnie stops showing up. Once in a while, though, Minnie will come running when Bryn opens the refrigerator, as if food is forthcoming. This reappearance of Minnie's old behavior is called

spontaneous recovery

If you allow yourself to go see a movie starring one of your favorite actors only after you have studied for your least favorite class, you have employed

the Premack principle.

Contingency in classical conditioning refers to

the frequency with which the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus occur together.

When a dog salivates upon the sight of food, the salivation is called the ____________ response

unconditioned

What is the definition of learning?

A relatively permanent change in behavior brought about through experience

primary reinforcer

A reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism's part to make it pleasurable.

secondary reinforcer

A reinforcer that acquires its positive value through an organism's experience; a secondary reinforcer is a learned or conditioned reinforcer.

counter conditioning

A classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.

punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur.

operant conditioning (instrumental conditioning)

A form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence

What is operant conditioning?

A form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence.

insight learning

A form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of a problem's solution.

aversive conditioning

A form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.

systematic desensitization

A method of therapy that treats anxiety by teaching the client to associate deep relaxation with increasingly intense anxiety-producing situations.

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

extinction (operant conditioning)

Decreases in the frequency of a behavior when the behavior is no longer reinforced.

Which neurotransmitter has been shown to be most closely associated with reinforcement of behaviors?

Dopamine

When a previously conditioned response decreases and eventually disappears ___________ has occurred

Extinction

classical conditioning

Learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response.

Associative Learning

Learning that occurs when we make a connection, or an association, between two events.

observational learning

Learning that takes place when a person observes and imitates another's behavior.

schedules of reinforcement

Specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced.

What is Operant Conditioning?

Strengthened voluntary responses depending on consequences

Taste aversion can be explained by

preparedness