Psychology Chapter on Learning Principles

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Questions and Answers

Which process describes the ability of organisms to adjust their behavior to environmental changes through learning?

Natural Selection

Modal Action Patterns

Evolved Modifiability (correct)

Habituation

What does latency measure in the context of learning?

The frequency of a behavior

The strength of a behavioral response

The duration of a stimulus

The time between stimulus presentation and response (correct)

Which term describes an innate, species-specific sequence of behavior triggered by specific stimuli?

Modal Action Patterns (correct)

General Behavior Traits

Adaptation

Reflex

In Pavlovian conditioning, what is the term for a stimulus that naturally triggers a response?

Unconditioned Stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which type of study involves manipulating variables to determine cause and effect?

Experiment Signup and view all the answers

What is extinction in the context of conditioning?

The weakening of a conditioned response when the CS is presented without the US Signup and view all the answers

Which factor illustrates the debate between genetics and environment on behavior?

Nature vs. Nurture Signup and view all the answers

What defines a conditioned response in Pavlovian conditioning?

A learned response to a conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What describes the phenomenon where a previously extinguished response reappears after a rest period?

Spontaneous Recovery Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the process of replacing an unwanted conditioned response with a desired one?

Counterconditioning Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for reinforcement after a varying number of responses?

Variable Ratio Schedule Signup and view all the answers

Which concept involves learning by observing the behavior of others?

Social Observational Learning Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a reinforcer that is innately satisfying?

Primary Reinforcer Signup and view all the answers

Which theory describes the idea that behavior becomes reinforcing when access is restricted?

Response-Deprivation Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of gradual exposure to feared stimuli while practicing relaxation techniques called?

Systematic Desensitization Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the biological predisposition to learn certain behaviors more easily?

Preparedness Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the tendency for learned behaviors to revert to innate behaviors over time?

Instinctive Drift Signup and view all the answers

What refers to the loss of learned information over time?

Decay Theory Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Principles

Reflexes are automatic responses to stimuli (e.g., blinking).
Modal Action Patterns (MAPs) are innate, species-specific behavioral sequences triggered by specific stimuli (e.g., bird migration).
General Behavior Traits are broad behavioral tendencies influenced by genetics (e.g., aggression, shyness).
Natural Selection is the process where traits enhancing survival and reproduction are passed to offspring.
Habituation is the reduced response to a repeated stimulus.
Nature vs. Nurture is the debate on the influence of genetics and environment on behavior.
Evolved Modifiability is the capacity to adapt behavior to environmental changes through learning.
Adaptation is the process organisms adjust to environmental changes for survival.

Learning and Behavior Study Methods

Natural Science Approach focuses on measurable, observable phenomena to study learning.
Learning Measures include frequency, speed, latency, and error rate.
Latency is the time between stimulus and response.
Topography is the physical form of a behavior.
Intensity is the strength of a behavior.
Anecdotal Evidence are non-scientific accounts.
Case Studies are in-depth analyses of individuals.
Descriptive Studies are observational research without manipulation.
Experimental Studies manipulate variables to find cause and effect.
Independent Variable is the manipulated factor in an experiment.
Dependent Variable is the measured outcome.
Between-Subjects Design compares different groups in an experiment.
Within-Subjects Design observes changes in the same individual across conditions.
Animal Research studies animal behavior to generalize findings to humans.

Pavlovian Conditioning

Unconditioned Stimulus (US) naturally triggers a response (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UR) is the natural reaction (e.g., salivation).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is a previously neutral stimulus (e.g., bell) that elicits a response after pairing with a US.
Conditioned Response (CR) is a learned response (e.g., salivation) to a CS.
Acquisition is associating a CS with a US.
Extinction is the weakening of a CR when the CS is presented without the US.
Spontaneous Recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period.
Generalization is similar responses to similar stimuli.
Discrimination is distinguishing between a CS and similar stimuli.
Higher-Order Conditioning involves pairing a CS with another neutral stimulus to create a new CR.
Rescorla-Wagner Model is a mathematical model of conditioning strength.

Pavlovian Conditioning Applications

Fear Conditioning links neutral stimuli to fear responses.
Taste Aversion is avoiding a food after a negative experience (e.g., nausea).
Evaluative Conditioning modifies preferences/attitudes through stimulus pairing.
Drug Tolerance reduces drug responsiveness due to repeated exposure.
Counterconditioning replaces unwanted responses with desired ones.
Systematic Desensitization uses gradual exposure and relaxation to reduce fear.

Operant Learning: Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning associates behavior with consequences.
Positive Reinforcement increases behavior by adding a pleasant stimulus.
Negative Reinforcement increases behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.
Primary Reinforcer is an innate reinforcer (e.g., food, water).
Secondary Reinforcer is a learned reinforcer (e.g., money).
Contingency and Contingency are the dependencies between behavior and consequences, and the timing of consequences.
Premack Principle uses a high-probability behavior to reinforce a low-probability one.
Response-Deprivation Theory behavior becomes reinforcing when access is restricted below baseline levels.

Operant Learning Beyond Habit

Shaping reinforces successive steps toward a desired behavior.
Chaining links smaller behaviors to form a complex sequence.
Learned Helplessness is a sense of powerlessness after repeated failure.
Insight is sudden understanding without trial and error.
Creativity is behavior prompted by novel responses.
Superstition results from accidental reinforcement.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement (CRF) reinforces every desired response.
Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR) reinforces after a fixed number of responses.
Variable Ratio Schedule (VR) reinforces after a varying number of responses.
Fixed Interval Schedule (FI) reinforces after a fixed amount of time.
Variable Interval Schedule (VI) reinforces after varying time intervals.
Extinction is the reduction in behavior when reinforcement stops.
Stretching the Ratio gradually increases response requirements for reinforcement.
Matching Law behavior allocations correspond to reinforcement proportions.

Operant Learning: Punishment

Positive Punishment decreases behavior by adding an unpleasant stimulus.
Negative Punishment decreases behavior by removing a pleasant stimulus.
Punisher Intensity affects the effectiveness of punishment.
Alternative Reinforcement reinforces desirable behaviors to reduce undesired ones.

Operant Applications

Behavior Modification uses operant principles to change behavior in real-world situations.
Self-Injurious Behavior is self-harm; often addressed using operant techniques.
Token Economy uses tokens for rewards.

Observational Learning

Observational Learning is learning by watching others.
Social Observational Learning involves learning from observing others' consequences.
Asocial Observational Learning involves learning from events without a model.
Imitation involves replicating observed behavior.

Generalization and Discrimination

Stimulus Generalization is responding to similar stimuli as the original CS.
Stimulus Discrimination is responding only to specific stimuli.
Stimulus Control is behavior influenced by environmental cues.
Concept Formation is learning to respond differently to stimulus categories.

Forgetting

Forgetting is the loss of learned information over time.
Proactive Interference is old information interfering with new information recall.
Retroactive Interference is new information interfering with old information recall.
Retrieval Failure is inability to access stored information.
Decay Theory suggests memory fades over time without use.

Limits of Learning

Preparedness is biological predisposition to learn some behaviors more easily.
Critical Periods are times when learning is most effective.
Instinctive Drift is the tendency for learned behaviors to revert to innate ones.
Neurological Damage affects learning ability.

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Description

Explore the fundamental principles of learning as detailed in this quiz. From reflexes and natural selection to the nature vs. nurture debate, this quiz covers essential concepts in behavioral science. Perfect for students of psychology looking to strengthen their understanding of learning theories.