AP Psychology Unit 6 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge?

Acquisition (correct)
Conditioning
Observable Learning
Learning

What does 'antecedents' refer to?

Preceding events that influence what comes later.

Which of the following describes associative learning?

Learning to avoid events
The act of reinforcing behaviors
Cognitive process of acquiring knowledge
Learning that certain events occur together (correct)

What is avoidance learning?

Learning to avoid events or conditions associated with dreaded outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is behavior therapy?

Psychotherapy that seeks to extinguish or inhibit maladaptive behavior by reinforcing desired behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a behavioral contract?

An agreement between two parties on consequences for behavior change. Signup and view all the answers

What is classical conditioning?

A type of learned response where a neutral stimulus elicits a reflexive response after being paired with a stimulus that produces the response. Signup and view all the answers

What are concurrent schedules of reinforcement?

Reinforcement schedules that operate simultaneously and independently for different responses. Signup and view all the answers

What are conditional reinforcers?

Rewards or punishments that derive their value from association with other more basic reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned response (CR)?

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus in classical conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A previously neutral stimulus that begins to trigger a conditioned response after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What does continuous reinforcement mean?

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cumulative recorder?

A graphic record of reinforcement and responding in a Skinner box as a function of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is discrimination in psychology?

The cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished. Signup and view all the answers

What are discriminative stimuli?

Cues that influence operant behavior by indicating probable consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'elicit' mean?

To draw forth or bring out from some source. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'emit' refer to?

To give off, send forth, or discharge. Signup and view all the answers

What is escape learning?

Learning of behaviors that allow an organism to escape from an aversive stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fixed-interval (FI) schedule?

A reinforcement pattern where reinforcement is provided after producing a response at least once following a specified time interval. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule?

A reinforcement pattern that provides reinforcement following a regular number of responses. Signup and view all the answers

What does generalize or generalizability mean?

The ability to use results from a sample to reach conclusions about a larger population. Signup and view all the answers

What is higher order conditioning?

A procedure in which a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus through association with an established conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the immune response?

The body's defensive reaction to invasion by foreign substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is insight learning?

Learning how to solve a problem by applying prior knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is instinctual drift?

The concept that learning can sometimes go against the innate abilities of a species. Signup and view all the answers

What is instrumental conditioning?

Operant conditioning that pairs a response with reinforcement in discrete trials. Signup and view all the answers

What is intermittent reinforcement?

An operant conditioning principle where only some responses are reinforced. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of effect?

The principle stating that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to recur. Signup and view all the answers

What is learning?

The cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is the matching law?

The principle that the proportion of responses matches the proportion of reinforcers obtained. Signup and view all the answers

What is modeling?

The act of representing something, usually on a smaller scale. Signup and view all the answers

What is negative reinforcement?

Increasing the strength of a response by removing a painful stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is observational learning?

Change in behavior due to watching others. Signup and view all the answers

What is one-trial learning?

A form of classical conditioning that requires only one experience to form an association. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant behavior?

Behavior that operates on the environment and produces consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is an operant chamber?

A Skinner box used to study operant conditioning, containing devices for reinforcement and data collection. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning?

Conditioning that brings responses under control through reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What is optimal foraging theory?

Analyzing behavior as a compromise of feeding costs and benefits. Signup and view all the answers

What is partial reinforcement?

Reinforcing a response only part of the time, leading to slower acquisition but greater resistance to extinction. Signup and view all the answers

What are phobias?

Irrational fears of specific objects or situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive reinforcement?

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, strengthening the response. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Premack principle?

Making the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior contingent on a low-frequency behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is preparedness in psychology?

Evolutionary predisposition to learn certain stimuli pairings due to survival value. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary reinforcers?

Innately reinforcing stimuli that satisfy biological needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is priming?

The unconscious activation of particular associations in memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is punishment in psychology?

An event that decreases the behavior it follows. Signup and view all the answers

What is the reciprocity norm?

An expectation that people will help those who have helped them. Signup and view all the answers

What is reconditioning?

The quick relearning of a conditioned response following extinction. Signup and view all the answers

What is reinforcement?

A stimulus or event that follows a response and increases the likelihood of that response repeating. Signup and view all the answers

What are reinforcement contingencies?

The circumstances or rules determining if responses lead to reinforcer presentation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a reinforcer?

Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows in operant conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is resistance to extinction?

When an organism continues making responses after reinforcement has been discontinued. Signup and view all the answers

What is respondent conditioning?

A stimulus-stimulus pairing procedure where a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus are presented together. Signup and view all the answers

What is retrieval in psychology?

The cognitive operation of accessing information stored in memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is a schedule of reinforcement?

A timetable determining when and how often a specific behavior is reinforced. Signup and view all the answers

What is second-order conditioning?

A form of learning where a neutral stimulus is made meaningful through classical conditioning, and then paired with a new neutral stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What are secondary (conditioned) reinforcers?

Stimulus events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers. Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping?

An operant conditioning procedure where reinforcers guide behavior toward approximations of the desired behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Skinner box?

A box containing devices for reinforcing behavior in operant conditioning experiments. Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous recovery?

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a pause. Signup and view all the answers

What does the S-R approach (contiguity) indicate?

Learning occurs only if events happen close together in time. Signup and view all the answers

What is a stimulus?

A change in surroundings causing an organism to react. Signup and view all the answers

What is stimulus discrimination?

The process where an organism learns to respond only to a specific stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is stimulus generalization?

When a conditioned response becomes associated with similar stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What are successive approximations?

Behaviors ordered in terms of increasing similarity to the desired response in shaping. Signup and view all the answers

What is a token economy?

An operant conditioning procedure where individuals earn tokens for desired behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trial in psychology?

The act of testing something. Signup and view all the answers

What is an unconditioned response (UCR)?

An organism's automatic reaction to a stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without prior conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a variable-interval (VI) schedule?

A reinforcement schedule where the reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval. Signup and view all the answers

What is a variable-ratio (VR) schedule?

A reinforcement schedule where the reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Acquisition and Learning Principles

Acquisition: Cognitive process involved in acquiring new skills or knowledge.
Associative Learning: Involves learning that certain events occur together, relevant in both classical and operant conditioning.
Insight Learning: The ability to solve problems by applying previously learned knowledge.
Instinctual Drift: Indicates instances where learning contradicts innate species abilities.
One-Trial Learning: Classical conditioning that requires only one experience for a strong association.

Conditioning Types and Processes

Classical Conditioning: Learning where a neutral stimulus (CS) elicits a reflexive response (CR) after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS).
Operant Conditioning: Involves behavior modification through reinforcement; responses are controlled by the consequences that follow them.
Higher Order Conditioning: Occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes a CS through association with an already established CS.
Respondent Conditioning: Pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus elicits a conditioned response.

Reinforcement and Schedules

Positive Reinforcement: Strengthens behavior by presenting positive stimuli; increases likelihood of response.
Negative Reinforcement: Increases behavior by removing aversive stimuli upon the occurrence of a response.
Continuous Reinforcement: Provides reinforcement every time the desired response occurs.
Intermittent Reinforcement: Provides reinforcement only part of the time, leading to greater resistance to extinction.
Schedules of Reinforcement include Fixed-Interval, Fixed-Ratio, Variable-Interval, and Variable-Ratio.

Learning Theories and Concepts

Law of Effect: Thorndike's principle stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated.
Observational Learning: Change in behavior resulting from observing others.
Shaping: Gradually guiding behavior toward a desired response by rewarding successive approximations.
Token Economy: Operant conditioning system rewarding individuals with tokens for desired behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards.

Additional Definitions and Concepts

Phobias: Irrational fears associated with specific objects or situations.
Discrimination: Cognitive process for distinguishing between different stimuli.
Generalization: Occurs when a conditioned response is triggered by stimuli similar to the original CS.
Spontaneous Recovery: Reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest.
Reinforcer: Anything that strengthens the behavior it follows; can be primary (innate needs) or secondary (learned associations).

Behavior Modification and Therapy

Behavior Therapy: Aims to modify maladaptive behaviors by reinforcing desirable actions and extinguishing negative ones.
Behavioral Contract: Agreement between parties outlining consequences for certain behaviors.
Escape Learning: Involves learning behaviors that help an organism escape an unpleasant stimulus.
Avoidance Learning: Learning to avoid situations associated with negative outcomes.

Cognitive and Environmental Factors

Antecedents: Events that precede and influence subsequent actions or behaviors.
Discriminative Stimuli: Indicate probable outcomes for particular responses, affecting operant behavior.
Reciprocity Norm: Expectation that individuals will reciprocate help, promoting social cooperation.

Measurement and Tools

Cumulative Recorder: A device that provides a graphic record of efficient reinforcement and responding over time, often used in operant conditioning research.
Skinner Box: An experimental apparatus used to study operant conditioning with animals.

Conclusion

Learning encompasses various cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processes influenced by reinforcement, stimuli, and contextual factors.
Understanding these concepts helps explain behavior patterns and informs therapy approaches.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms from AP Psychology Unit 6. Understand concepts like acquisition, antecedents, and associative learning. Perfect for review and enhancement of your psychological vocabulary.