Psych- Module 20 (Learning)

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

spontaneous recovery

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

Behaviorism

the view 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).

Research discussed in the textbook suggests that it takes just over _____ days for a behavior to become a habit.

60

John B. Watson (1878-1958)

Founder of behaviorism, the theory that psychology should restrict its efforts to studying observable behaviors, not mental processes.

extinction

In classical conditioning, the decrease in response resulting from repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus.

acquisition

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.

Generalization

In classical conditioning, the process by which two distinct but similar stimuli come to produce the same response.

unconditioned response

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

In classical conditioning, the _____ stimulus elicits no response before conditioning begins.

Neutral

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

Russian physiologist and learning theorist famous for the discovery of classical conditioning, in which learning occurs through association

The eminent psychologist _____ became known for shaping rat and pigeon behaviors by delivering rewards as the animals more closely approximated a desired behavior.

Skinner

Ruben is reading the descriptions of some of the psychology courses in his college's course catalog. The description of one course reads in part, "An introduction to the processes whereby new and enduring behavior and information is acquired through experience." This course is MOST likely titled:

The Psychology of Learning

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.

Psychologists define _____ as the capacity to learn new behaviors that help us cope with our changing world.

adaptability

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

Connecting events is to acquiring mental information as _____ learning is to _____ learning.

associative; cognitive

Jonas, a veteran of the war in Iraq, suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder. Now, back home in a quiet California neighborhood, he jumps when he hears a firecracker or a car backfire. In the terminology of classical conditioning, these sounds are BEST thought of as _____ stimuli.

conditioned

Dayton's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor advises him to avoid the people, places, and things associated with his drug use. These people, places, and things are BEST viewed as _____ within the framework of _____ conditioning.

conditioned stimuli; classical

A scientist conditions a dog to salivate in response to the sound of a high-pitched tone. The scientist then presents a low-pitched tone. The dog fails to salivate. The dog is demonstrating:

discrimination

Janine, who completed several tours of duty in Afghanistan, suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder. Now, back home in Texas, she is frightened by firecrackers and car backfiring. The fact that these sounds scare her reflects:

generalization

spontaneous recovery

in classical conditioning the re-occurence of conditioning after it had appeared to be extinct

Neutral Stimuli (NS)

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

neutral stimulus

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

unconditioned stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.

Conditoned Stimulus

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

Discrimination

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

conditioned response

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

associative learning

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).

Animals and humans learn about the consequences of behavior through _____ conditioning.

operant

Animals can be trained to perform many behaviors through _____; that is, by providing well-timed rewards as the animals progressively better approximate the desired behaviors.

shaping

cognitive learning

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

Before the tone ever sounded, Pavlov's dog salivated each time food was presented, exemplifying a(n):

unconditioned response

In classical conditioning, blinking in response to a puff of air directed into one's eye is a(n):

unconditioned response