Psychology Chapter 6 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

A relatively permanent change in behavior or mental processes as a result of practice or experience is called _____.

learning

The learning of an association between an environmental stimulus and a behavioral response is known as _____

conditioning

_____ conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Classical

In classical conditioning, Frank's wife was a(n) _ stimulus ten days ago, and has now become a(n) _ stimulus.

neutral; conditioned Signup and view all the answers

In Eli's example, the conditioned stimulus (CS) is _____.

grandma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of the use of classical conditioning in everyday life?

All of these options Signup and view all the answers

Wartime propaganda often depicts the enemy as ugly, cruel, and somewhat less than human. This type of propaganda creates _____ toward the enemy.

an unfavorable classically conditioned emotional response Signup and view all the answers

Most phobias are explained by _____

classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

_ is an exaggerated, irrational fear of an object or situation, which may sometimes be thought of as a(n) _

A phobia; conditioned emotional response Signup and view all the answers

A baby is bitten by a dog and then is afraid of all small animals. This is an example of _____.

stimulus generalization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of stimulus discrimination in classical conditioning?

After an accident with a red car last month, Giorgio gets nervous when he sees a red car, but not when he sees a red truck or van. Signup and view all the answers

Although Henrietta extinguished her fear of spiders several months ago, she suddenly gasped in horror when she saw an itsy-bitsy spider on her desk. This is an example of _____.

spontaneous recovery Signup and view all the answers

If you wanted to use higher-order conditioning to get Watson's Little Albert to fear Barbie dolls, you would show him a Barbie doll with _____.

the white rat Signup and view all the answers

An event that increases the probability that a response will be repeated is called _____.

a reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

An event that decreases the likelihood that a response will be repeated is called _____.

punishment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is CORRECTLY matched?

Skinner: reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

According to Skinner's principles of instrumental conditioning, reinforcement and punishment must come immediately _____ the response.

after Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Principles

Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior or mental processes due to practice or experience.
Conditioning refers to the process of learning associations between environmental stimuli and behavioral responses.
Classical conditioning involves a neutral stimulus becoming associated with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

Classical Conditioning Concepts

In classical conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response, while a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after association.
Example: A person may feel anxious when approaching a partner after experiencing shocks while kissing due to prior conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus Examples

An example of a conditioned stimulus is a person associated with rewards; e.g., a child's mouth watering at the sight of their grandmother, who brings treats.

Everyday Applications of Conditioning

Classical conditioning is utilized in various contexts, including advertising and treatment for addictions, often linking negative feelings with certain behaviors like drinking alcohol.

Phobias and Responses

Most phobias are explained by classical conditioning; an exaggerated fear can develop from negative experiences associated with specific objects or situations.
Stimulus generalization occurs when a fear of one stimulus also applies to similar stimuli, such as a baby fearing all small animals after a dog bite.

Stimulus Discrimination

Stimulus discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different stimuli, a concept highlighted by individuals reacting only to specific triggers, like a color of a car.

Recovery from Conditioning

Spontaneous recovery can occur after a fear has been extinguished, where a previously conditioned response unexpectedly re-emerges after a period.

Higher-Order Conditioning

Higher-order conditioning involves using an already established conditioned stimulus to create a new conditioned response with a different stimulus.

Reinforcement and Punishment

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while punishment decreases it. Immediate consequences are critical for the effectiveness of both.

Key Figures in Conditioning

B.F. Skinner is known for advancing the concept of reinforcement in operant conditioning, differentiating it from classical conditioning pioneered by Pavlov.
Thorndike's work laid the foundation for understanding the relationship between behavior and outcomes, though he is not widely remembered for classical conditioning.

Conditioning Timeline

The timing of reinforcement or punishment relative to a behavior is crucial for shaping future responses; immediate consequences are most effective.

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Test your understanding of key concepts in psychology with these flashcards from Chapter 6. Focus on learning definitions and associations critical for grasping behavioral changes. This quiz will help reinforce your knowledge through practice and recall.