PSYC 101 6

Question 1

What is learning defined as?

Answer 1

a relatively enduring change in behavior resulting from experience

Learning involves adapting to the environment and preparing for future interactions.

Question 2

Name the three types of learning.

Answer 2

• Nonassociative
• Associative
• Social

These types categorize how learning occurs based on the nature of the experience.

Question 3

What is nonassociative learning?

Answer 3

Responding after repeated exposure to a single stimulus or event

Example: Ignoring a constant noise like an air conditioner over time.

Question 4

What is associative learning?

Answer 4

Linking two stimuli or events that occur together

This type of learning develops through conditioning.

Question 5

What is social learning?

Answer 5

Acquiring or changing behavior after verbal instruction or exposure to another individual performing that behavior

Example: A child learning to speak by mimicking parents.

Question 6

What are the two forms of nonassociative learning?

Answer 6

• Habituation
• Sensitization

These forms describe how behavioral responses change with repeated exposure.

Question 7

Define habituation.

Answer 7

Behavioral response to a stimulus decreases

It leads to ignoring stimuli that are not harmful or helpful.

Question 8

Define sensitization.

Answer 8

Behavioral response to a stimulus increases

It often occurs with meaningful stimuli, such as threats.

Question 9

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 9

A neutral stimulus elicits a response because it has become associated with a stimulus that already produces that response

Example: Learning that a metronome predicts food.

Question 10

What is the unconditioned response (UR) in classical conditioning?

Answer 10

The salivation elicited by food

It is called unconditioned because it is unlearned.

Question 11

What is the conditioned stimulus (CS)?

Answer 11

A stimulus that produces a response only after training

Example: The metronome after it has been associated with food.

Question 12

What is acquisition in classical conditioning?

Answer 12

Formation of an association between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus

It is the initial learning phase.

Question 13

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 13

The conditioned response is extinguished when the conditioned stimulus no longer predicts the unconditioned stimulus

Example: The metronome is presented without food.

Question 14

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 14

The extinguished CS produces a CR again

It is temporary and can occur after a pause.

Question 15

What does the Rescorla-Wagner model state?

Answer 15

Learning is determined by the extent to which an unconditioned stimulus is unexpected or surprising

It emphasizes prediction errors in learning.

Question 16

Define stimulus generalization.

Answer 16

Occurs when stimuli similar but not identical to the CS produce the CR

It is adaptive for responding to variations in the environment.

Question 17

Define stimulus discrimination.

Answer 17

Occurs when an animal learns to differentiate between two similar stimuli

One is consistently associated with the US and the other is not.

Question 18

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 18

Learning that depends on the animal taking an action that leads to a consequence

It involves rewards and punishments.

Question 19

What is the Law of Effect?

Answer 19

Any behavior that leads to a satisfying state of affairs is likely to occur again

Introduced by Edward Thorndike.

Question 20

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 20

A stimulus that occurs after a response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated

Coined by Skinner.

Question 21

What are the two types of reinforcement?

Answer 21

• Positive reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement

Positive adds a stimulus; negative removes an unpleasant stimulus.

Question 22

What are the two types of punishment?

Answer 22

• Positive punishment
• Negative punishment

Positive adds an unpleasant stimulus; negative removes a pleasant stimulus.

Question 23

What is shaping?

Answer 23

Reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior

It helps teach complex behaviors gradually.

Question 24

What are primary reinforcers?

Answer 24

Stimuli that satisfy biological needs

Example: Food and water.

Question 25

What are **secondary reinforcers**?

Answer 25

Stimuli that serve as reinforcers but do not satisfy biological needs ## Footnote Established through classical conditioning.

Question 26

What is the **Premack principle**?

Answer 26

A more-valued activity can be used to reinforce the performance of a less-valued activity ## Footnote Example: “Finish your homework and then you can go out.”

Question 27

What is **temporal discounting**?

Answer 27

When the value of a reward diminishes over time ## Footnote Future rewards are often viewed as less valuable.

Question 28

What is the difference between **continuous reinforcement** and **partial reinforcement**?

Answer 28

* Continuous reinforcement: Reinforce every time behavior occurs * Partial reinforcement: Intermittent reinforcement of behavior ## Footnote The effect depends on the reinforcement schedule.

Question 29

What is the **partial-reinforcement extinction effect**?

Answer 29

Greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement ## Footnote Learners can detect the absence of reinforcement more easily with continuous reinforcement.

Question 30

What influences learning according to **biology and evolution**?

Answer 30

Biological predispositions and evolutionary factors shape learning processes ## Footnote Certain behaviors may be more easily learned due to evolutionary advantages.

Question 31

If the schedule depends on the passage of time, it is _______.

Answer 31

interval ## Footnote This refers to a type of schedule in behavioral conditioning.

Question 32

If the schedule is not predictable, it is _______.

Answer 32

variable ## Footnote This indicates a lack of predictability in the reinforcement schedule.

Question 33

If the schedule is predictable, it is _______.

Answer 33

fixed ## Footnote This type of schedule provides consistent reinforcement.

Question 34

What is the **partial-reinforcement extinction effect**?

Answer 34

The greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement ## Footnote This effect highlights how behavior can be more resistant to extinction when reinforcement is not given consistently.

Question 35

In **classical conditioning**, what is learned?

Answer 35

The association between the occurrence of the CS and US ## Footnote CS stands for conditioned stimulus, and US stands for unconditioned stimulus.

Question 36

In **operant conditioning**, what is learned?

Answer 36

The association between action and consequence ## Footnote This involves learning that certain behaviors lead to specific outcomes.

Question 37

What does **equipotentiality** suggest?

Answer 37

Any object or phenomenon could be converted to a conditioned stimulus when associated with any unconditioned stimulus ## Footnote This principle indicates flexibility in what can become a conditioned stimulus.

Question 38

What is **conditioned taste aversion**?

Answer 38

The association between eating a food and getting sick ## Footnote This phenomenon occurs when animals learn to avoid certain tastes after a negative experience.

Question 39

What are **biological constraints** in learning?

Answer 39

Animals have a hard time learning behaviors that run counter to their evolutionary adaptation ## Footnote This indicates that certain behaviors are more easily learned due to biological predispositions.

Question 40

What is **biological preparedness**?

Answer 40

Explains why animals tend to fear potentially dangerous things ## Footnote This concept highlights the evolutionary basis for certain learned fears.

Question 41

What role does **dopamine** play in learning?

Answer 41

Sets the value of a rewarding unconditioned stimulus or reinforcer ## Footnote Dopamine is crucial for the 'wanting' aspect of rewards.

Question 42

What is **prediction error**?

Answer 42

The difference between the expected and the actual outcome in classical conditioning ## Footnote This concept is important for understanding learning and reinforcement.

Question 43

What is a **phobia**?

Answer 43

An acquired fear that is out of proportion to the real threat of an object or situation ## Footnote Common phobias include fears of heights, dogs, and snakes.

Question 44

Who was the first researcher to demonstrate classical conditioning in the development of phobias?

Answer 44

John B. Watson ## Footnote Watson conducted the famous 'Little Albert' experiment.

Question 45

What is **modeling** in social learning?

Answer 45

The imitation of observed behavior ## Footnote This concept indicates that people reproduce the behaviors of models they observe.

Question 46

What is **vicarious learning**?

Answer 46

Learning about an action’s consequences by watching others being rewarded or punished ## Footnote This type of learning occurs through observation rather than direct experience.

Question 47

What did Susan Mineka's research on monkeys demonstrate?

Answer 47

Monkeys can learn to fear particular stimuli by observing others ## Footnote This highlights the role of social learning in developing fears.

Question 48

What are the three ways fear can be learned?

Answer 48

* Classical conditioning * Observational learning * Instructed learning ## Footnote These methods illustrate different pathways through which fear responses can be acquired.

Question 49

What does Jennifer Eberhardt propose about learned cultural associations?

Answer 49

They underlie racial disparities in criminal justice ## Footnote This highlights the implications of social learning in societal issues.