Classical Conditioning Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is classical conditioning?

Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

What role did Pavlov play in 'discovering' classical conditioning?

Pavlov demonstrated how stimulus-related associations are formed by events in an organism's environment.

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

A stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning.

What is an unconditioned response?

An unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned stimulus?

A previously neutral stimulus that has acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response through conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned response?

A learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

How does one 'acquire' a conditioned response, and what factors must be present for acquisition?

The acquisition of a conditioned response depends on stimulus contiguity, which means stimuli must occur together in time and space. Signup and view all the answers

How does extinction occur with a classically conditioned response?

Extinction is the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency due to consistent presentation of the conditioned stimulus alone. Signup and view all the answers

What facilitates stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination?

Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism responds in the same way to new stimuli similar to the original, while stimulus discrimination occurs when it does not respond similarly. Signup and view all the answers

What is higher-order conditioning and how does it occur?

Higher-order conditioning is when a conditioned stimulus functions as an unconditioned stimulus to create new conditioned responses based on established conditioned responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning?

A form of learning in which voluntary responses come to be controlled by their consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What role did B.F. Skinner play in 'discovering' operant conditioning?

Skinner demonstrated that organisms tend to repeat responses that are followed by favorable consequences. Signup and view all the answers

What is shaping and how does it occur?

Shaping is the reinforcement of closer approximations of a desired response, often necessary when an organism does not naturally emit the desired response. Signup and view all the answers

When does extinction occur?

Extinction refers to the gradual weakening and disappearance of a response tendency because it is no longer followed by reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What pattern of reinforcement is most robust to extinction and why?

Intermittent reinforcement is most robust to extinction because it creates a more stable response pattern compared to continuous reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast fixed and variable reinforcement.

Fixed reinforcement is given after a fixed number of non-reinforced responses, while variable reinforcement is given after a variable number of non-reinforced responses. Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast interval and ratio reinforcement.

Interval reinforcement provides a reward for the first response after a fixed time interval, while variable-interval rewards follow a variable time interval. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment?

Positive reinforcement strengthens a response by presenting a reward, negative reinforcement strengthens a response by removing an aversive stimulus, while punishment weakens a response by presenting an aversive stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to evoke a response previously triggered by another stimulus.
Ivan Pavlov is recognized for demonstrating the formation of stimulus-related associations through environmental events.
Unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally evokes an unconditioned response without prior learning.
Unconditioned response refers to a natural reaction to an unconditioned stimulus, occurring without previous conditioning.
A conditioned stimulus is a neutral signal that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus to evoke a conditioned response.
The conditioned response is a learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus, resulting from prior conditioning.
Acquisition of a conditioned response relies on stimulus contiguity, where stimuli must occur together in time and space, with novelty or intensity enhancing conditioning potential.
Extinction in classical conditioning involves the gradual reduction of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization and Discrimination

Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism responds similarly to new stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus.
Stimulus discrimination happens when an organism distinguishes between a specific conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli, not responding the same way.

Higher-Order Conditioning

In higher-order conditioning, a previously established conditioned stimulus is used to condition a new response, functioning as if it were an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a learning process where voluntary behaviors are influenced by their consequences.
B.F. Skinner played a crucial role in operant conditioning by showing that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Shaping and Extinction

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior when the behavior is not naturally occurring.
Extinction happens when a response gradually weakens and disappears due to the absence of reinforcement.

Reinforcement Schedules

Intermittent reinforcement is more resilient to extinction compared to continuous reinforcement, as it provides reinforcement only sometimes.
Ratio schedules yield faster responses than interval schedules, with variable ratios offering greater resistance to extinction compared to fixed ratios.

Fixed vs. Variable Reinforcement

Fixed reinforcement gives a reward after a specified number of responses, while variable reinforcement provides rewards after varying numbers, averaging out over time (e.g., reinforcing after every tenth response on average).
Interval reinforcement rewards the first response after a fixed time has passed, whereas variable-interval reinforcement gives rewards after unpredictable time intervals.

Reinforcement Types

Positive reinforcement strengthens a response by presenting a rewarding stimulus.
Negative reinforcement strengthens a response through the removal of an aversive stimulus.

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Description

Test your knowledge on classical conditioning and its key concepts. This quiz covers the foundational ideas introduced by Pavlov and the mechanics of stimulus-response associations.