CE Psychology Chapter 5 + 6 Exam Flashcards

Questions and Answers

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses is called?

conditioning

Who discovered the basic process of classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov

The term 'elicit' is used in classical conditioning. What does it mean?

draws out

In response to a cold temperature, what is described as the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

cold temperature Signup and view all the answers

In response to cutting up an onion, what is termed the unconditioned response (UCR)?

tears Signup and view all the answers

To produce a learned response in classical conditioning, a(n) ___________ are repeatedly paired.

neutral stimulus and a stimulus that naturally elicits a response Signup and view all the answers

Essentially, classical conditioning is a process of learning what?

an association between two stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What does behaviorism emphasize in the study of psychology?

observable behaviors rather than mental processes Signup and view all the answers

Who made the claim about training any infant to become a specialist?

John B. Watson Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best illustrates classical conditioning?

Allen gets anxious in small, enclosed rooms because his older brother once locked him in a closet. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT illustrate classical conditioning?

Leslie pays her bill on time to avoid late charges. Signup and view all the answers

What represents a valid criticism of Watson and Rayner's 'Little Albert' study?

They intentionally induced a lasting fear in an infant. Signup and view all the answers

How did John Watson influence American Business?

Using classical conditioning in advertising campaigns. Signup and view all the answers

What is the best explanation for habitual coffee drinkers experiencing alertness upon sipping coffee?

Coffee's smell and taste became a conditioned stimulus for alertness. Signup and view all the answers

How does the cognitive view of classical conditioning differ from the traditional behavioral perspective?

It includes mental processes in addition to external events. Signup and view all the answers

From the cognitive perspective, what does classical conditioning depend on?

Information provided by the conditioned stimulus about the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What did dogs learn in Pavlov's original experiment?

The bell was a signal that predicted food. Signup and view all the answers

The idea that organisms are innately predisposed to form certain associations is termed?

biological preparedness Signup and view all the answers

What does the evolutionary approach to classical conditioning emphasize?

An animal's unique characteristics can influence learning. Signup and view all the answers

Why are phobias of certain objects more common than others according to Martin Seligman?

We are more likely to develop phobias for threats to evolutionary survival. Signup and view all the answers

What does the evolutionary perspective explain about common phobias?

They are fears of spiders, snakes, and heights. Signup and view all the answers

Classical conditioning involves _, while operant conditioning involves __.

reflexive behaviors; voluntary behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'law of effect'?

A principle that describes how voluntary behaviors can be modified by their consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What does Skinner's term 'operant' describe?

Active behaviors that operate on the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What did Skinner believe psychology should study?

Phenomena that could be objectively measured and verified. Signup and view all the answers

In operant conditioning, what is reinforcement?

Any stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the basic idea of operant conditioning?

Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences. Signup and view all the answers

Positive reinforcement is to negative reinforcement as:

addition of a reinforcing stimulus is to removal of an aversive stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Tom consistently backs up his computer data to avoid losing any data. What is this an example of?

negative reinforcement by avoidance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered a conditioned reinforcer?

money Signup and view all the answers

What are possible examples of conditioned reinforcers?

Respect, approval, smile, touch, nod of recognition. Signup and view all the answers

Negative reinforcement the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, and positive punishment the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

increases; decreases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning

Learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses is known as conditioning.
Ivan Pavlov is credited with discovering the basic process of classical conditioning.
In this context, "elicit" refers to a stimulus that prompts an existing behavior to occur.
An unconditioned stimulus (UCS) naturally triggers a reflexive response, such as shivering due to cold.
An unconditioned response (UCR) is the automatic reaction, e.g., tearing up when cutting an onion.

Process of Classical Conditioning

A neutral stimulus must be paired repeatedly with a stimulus that naturally produces a response to create a learned reaction.
Classical conditioning focuses on learning the association between two stimuli.
Behaviorism emphasizes the scientific study of observable behaviors, neglecting mental processes.

Influence of John B. Watson

John B. Watson claimed he could train any infant to become a specialist irrespective of their background.
He criticized the ethical implications of inducing long-lasting fears in participants, as seen in the "Little Albert" study.
Watson pioneered the use of classical conditioning in advertising, associating emotional responses with consumer products.

Cognitive Perspective

Classical conditioning from a cognitive viewpoint incorporates mental processes alongside external events.
Information provided by the conditioned stimulus (CS) about the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is fundamental to the learning process.

Biological Preparedness

Organisms are inherently predisposed to form associations between certain stimuli and responses, a concept known as biological preparedness.
The evolutionary perspective highlights that specific phobias are more prevalent due to their historical threat to survival, such as fears of snakes or heights.

Operant Conditioning

Reflexive behaviors fall under classical conditioning; voluntary behaviors align with operant conditioning.
The "law of effect," established by Edward Thorndike, indicates that voluntary behaviors can change based on their consequences.
B.F. Skinner coined "operant" to denote active behaviors that influence the environment and yield consequences.

Reinforcement and Punishment

In operant conditioning, reinforcement increases the likelihood of repeated behavior, while punishment decreases it.
Positive reinforcement involves adding a favorable stimulus, whereas negative reinforcement entails removing an unfavorable stimulus.
Examples of conditioned reinforcers include money and social approvals, highlighting learned associations.

Practical Applications

The act of frequently backing up data can be seen as negative reinforcement by avoiding loss.
Immediate responses, like feeling alert from caffeine, can be explained through classical conditioning where environmental cues trigger conditioned responses.

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Description

Prepare for your exam with these comprehensive flashcards covering key concepts from Chapters 5 and 6 of Psychology. Learn about conditioning, classical conditioning, and the foundational work of Ivan Pavlov. Test your understanding and reinforce your knowledge on essential behavioral responses.