Classical and Operant Conditioning Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is learning?

Learning is relatively due to change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience.

What is classical conditioning?

Learning to associate one stimulus with another.

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

What is an Unconditioned Response (UCR)?

Unlearned naturally occurring responses to UCS. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

An originally irrelevant stimulus that after association with UCS, comes to trigger a response. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?

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

Identify the components of the classical conditioning example: UCS: Thunder, UCR: Fear, CS: Lightning, CR: Fear.

UCS: Thunder Signup and view all the answers

What is taste aversion?

An evolutionary response to foods that may kill you, requiring only 1 trial. Signup and view all the answers

What does a fixed ratio schedule refer to?

A schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is a variable ratio schedule?

Reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fixed interval schedule?

A schedule that reinforces after a specified or fixed period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What does a variable interval schedule refer to?

Reinforces a response after an unpredictable period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the overjustification effect?

Giving a reward for something someone already likes to do, leading to a decrease in intrinsic motivation. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning?

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Law of Effect?

Rewarded behavior is likely to recur, and punished behavior is less likely to recur. Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping?

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

What is punishment?

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive punishment?

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is negative punishment?

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What are positive reinforcers?

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What are negative reinforcers?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning

Defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.
Types of learning include classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

Classical Conditioning

Involves associating one stimulus with another, leading to a reflexive reaction.
Individuals or animals react instinctively rather than choosing a behavior.
Example: Association between lightning (CS) and thunder (UCS) resulting in fear (CR).

Key Terminology

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally and automatically triggers a response.
Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural, unlearned response to UCS.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Initially irrelevant stimulus that triggers a response after association with UCS.
Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Taste Aversion

An evolutionary response to potentially harmful foods, formed after one trial (e.g., after food poisoning).
Involves latent inhibition, where familiar stimuli are less likely to be associated with negative effects.

Reinforcement Schedules

Fixed: Same reinforcement criteria.
Variable: Changing reinforcement criteria.
Interval: Time-based schedule for reinforcement.
Ratio: Response-based schedule for reinforcement.

Types of Reinforcement Schedules

Fixed Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement after a predetermined number of responses (e.g., receiving tokens in a video game).
Variable Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., selling cookies as a Girl Scout).
Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement after a specific amount of time has passed (e.g., regular mail delivery).
Variable Interval Schedule: Reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time (e.g., checking social media, fishing).

Overjustification Effect

Occurs when a reward for an intrinsically enjoyable activity reduces overall interest in that activity.
Example: A basketball enthusiast becomes less interested when paid to play, shifting focus from enjoyment to reward.

Operant Conditioning

Learning process in which behavior is strengthened by reinforcers or weakened by punishers.

Law of Effect

States that behaviors followed by rewards are likely to occur again, while those followed by punishments are less likely to recur.

Shaping

An operant conditioning technique that reinforces behaviors as they get progressively closer to the desired behavior.

Punishment

An event that decreases the likelihood of the behavior it follows.

Types of Punishment

Positive Punishment: Addition of an unpleasant stimulus to reduce behavior (e.g., reprimanding a child).
Negative Punishment: Removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior.

Reinforcers

Positive Reinforcers: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.
Negative Reinforcers: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

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Description

Test your understanding of classical and operant conditioning with this comprehensive quiz. You'll explore key concepts such as learning, reflexive reactions, and the theories behind associative learning. Great for psychology students and enthusiasts alike!