6.1 and 6.2 classical conditioning

A stimulus that does not initially elicit a response in an organism is a(n) ________.

neutral stimulus

Learning is best defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that ________.

occurs as a result of experience

aquisition

period of initial learning in classical conditioning in which a human or an animal begins to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus will begin to elicit the conditioned response

conditioned response

response caused by the conditioned stimulus

spontaneous recovery

return of a previously extinguished conditioned response

habituation

when we learn not to respond to a stimulus that is presented repeatedly without change

higher-order conditioning

(also, second-order conditioning) using a conditioned stimulus to condition a neutral stimulus

stimulus generalization

demonstrating the conditioned response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus

What is the difference between a reflex and a learned behavior?

A reflex is a behavior that humans are born knowing how to do, such as sucking or blushing; these behaviors happen automatically in response to stimuli in the environment. Learned behaviors are things that humans are not born knowing how to do, such as swimming and surfing. Learned behaviors are not automatic; they occur as a result of practice or repeated experience in a situation.

Compare and contrast classical and operant conditioning. How are they alike? How do they differ?

Both classical and operant conditioning involve learning by association. In classical conditioning, responses are involuntary and automatic; however, responses are voluntary and learned in operant conditioning. In classical conditioning, the event that drives the behavior (the stimulus) comes before the behavior; in operant conditioning, the event that drives the behavior (the consequence) comes after the behavior. Also, whereas classical conditioning involves an organism forming an association between an involuntary (reflexive) response and a stimulus, operant conditioning involves an organism forming an association between a voluntary behavior and a consequence.

How does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus?

This occurs through the process of acquisition. A human or an animal learns to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus. During the acquisition phase, the neutral stimulus begins to elicit the conditioned response. The neutral stimulus is becoming the conditioned stimulus. At the end of the acquisition phase, learning has occurred and the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus capable of eliciting the conditioned response by itself.

stimulus discrimination

ability to respond differently to similar stimuli

In ________ the stimulus or experience occurs before the behavior and then gets paired with the behavior.

classical conditioning

Two forms of associative learning are ________ and ________.

classical conditioning; operant conditioning

In Pavlov's work with dogs, the psychic secretions were ________.

conditioned responses

extinction

decrease in the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the conditioned stimulus

Which of the following is an example of a reflex that occurs at some point in the development of a human being?

infant sucking on a nipple

classical conditioning

learning in which the stimulus or experience occurs before the behavior and then gets paired or associated with the behavior

unconditioned response

natural (unlearned) behavior to a given stimulus

In Watson and Rayner's experiments, Little Albert was conditioned to fear a white rat, and then he began to be afraid of other furry white objects. This demonstrates ________.

stimulus generalization

neutral stimulus

stimulus that does not initially elicit a response

unconditioned stimulus

stimulus that elicits a reflexive response

conditioned stimulus

stimulus that elicits a response due to its being paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Extinction occurs when ________.

the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without being paired with an unconditioned stimulus