Psychology: Classical Conditioning Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of learning as described in the study of learning?

An innate ability that does not require any environmental interaction.

A process that results in a relatively consistent change in behaviour based on experience. (correct)

A process leading to temporary changes in thought patterns.

A series of actions that individuals take without the need for experience.

What is the learning-performance distinction?

The distinction between immediate and long-term memory retention.

The separation of learned information from its expression or performance. (correct)

The contrast between individual learning styles and group learning outcomes.

The difference between intentional and unintentional learning.

Which of the following statements best describes habituation?

A form of conditioning that strengthens responses to stimuli over time.

A psychological process that enhances memory performance.

A behavior that becomes automatic due to repeated exposure to a stimulus. (correct)

A technique used to rapidly acquire new skills through practice.

Which psychologist is known for founding the school of thought known as behaviorism?

John Watson Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a relatively permanent change in behavior due to learning?

It remains consistent over time and different situations. Signup and view all the answers

What does stimulus generalization refer to in classical conditioning?

Responses are triggered by stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

How does stimulus discrimination function in learning?

It helps respond differently to varying stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What did Edward Thorndike discover in his research on operant conditioning?

Responses followed by satisfying consequences are likely to be repeated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of operant conditioning?

It relies on manipulating the consequences of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does partial reinforcement have compared to continuous reinforcement?

It creates more robust responses that resist extinction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines a discriminant stimulus in operant conditioning?

A stimulus that signals what response will yield consequences. Signup and view all the answers

How does stimulus generalization impact the strength of responses?

The strength of the response increases with greater similarity to the CS. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Law of Effect?

Responses followed by satisfying consequences become more probable. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of acquiring a conditioned response called?

Acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What does the Unconditioned Response (UCR) refer to in classical conditioning?

The naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

A stimulus that has no effect until associated with a UCS Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the process of extinction in classical conditioning?

The conditioned response weakens due to absence of both CS and UCS Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous recovery in the context of classical conditioning?

The sudden reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period Signup and view all the answers

What example illustrates forward short delay conditioning?

Ringing the bell followed immediately by presenting the food Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a reflex in the context of classical conditioning?

A simple unlearned response to a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What did Ivan Pavlov discover during his research?

Dogs can learn to salivate to stimuli that precede food Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used for an environmental condition that elicits a response?

Stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What does habituation describe in classical conditioning?

Weakening of responses due to repeated exposure to stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Fixed-Ratio schedule of reinforcement?

A free coffee after buying 10 coffees Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reinforcement schedule is characterized by an average time interval between reinforcements?

Variable-Interval Signup and view all the answers

What defines positive punishment?

Delivery of an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior Signup and view all the answers

How does negative reinforcement differ from positive punishment?

It removes an aversive stimulus after a response Signup and view all the answers

In Bandura's Bobo doll studies, which group of children exhibited the least aggressive behavior?

Those who saw the model reprimanded Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes observational learning?

Learning by modeling behavior from others Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a Variable-Ratio schedule of reinforcement?

Reinforcement typically occurs after an unpredictable number of responses Signup and view all the answers

What is escape conditioning and how does it relate to negative reinforcement?

It allows an individual to terminate an aversive stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Study of Learning

Learning is a change in behavior or potential behavior due to experience.
The learning-performance distinction refers to the difference between learned knowledge and its overt expression.
Habituation is a basic form of learning where stimuli do not elicit a response due to repeated exposure.

Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning is a learning process where one stimulus predicts the occurrence of another.
Ivan Pavlov studied learned associations in dogs, leading to the discovery of classical conditioning.
Pavlov's research focused on salivary responses in dogs and how they were influenced by learned associations.

Key Elements in Classical Conditioning

A reflex is an unlearned response to a stimulus.
A stimulus is an environmental condition that elicits a response.

Classical Conditioning Terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) is any stimulus that naturally elicits a behavior.
Unconditioned Response (UCR) is the behavior elicited by the UCS.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is a previously neutral stimulus that becomes associated with the UCS and elicits a response.
Conditioned Response (CR) is the behavior elicited by the CS.

Processes of Conditioning

Acquisition is the initial learning phase where the CR is established and strengthens with repeated trials.
Extinction is the weakening of the CR due to the absence of the CS and UCS.
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of the CR after a rest period without further exposure to the UCS.

Stimulus Generalization and Discrimination

Stimulus generalization refers to the automatic extension of CRs to stimuli similar to the CS.
Stimulus discrimination involves learning to respond differently to stimuli that differ from the CS.

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Classical conditioning plays a role in our daily lives.
It can be used to develop phobias, treat anxiety disorders, and enhance positive associations.

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning involves manipulating the consequences of behavior to observe its impact on future behavior.
Edward Thorndike's research with cats and puzzle boxes led to the formulation of the Law of Effect, which states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more probable.
A discriminative stimulus signals that a particular response will produce specific consequences.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Partial reinforcement schedules involve delivering reinforcement only occasionally, leading to greater resistance to extinction compared to continuous reinforcement.
Ratio schedules are based on the number of responses.
Interval schedules are based on time intervals.

Schedules of Reinforcement Types

Fixed-Ratio (FR) schedule delivers reinforcement after a fixed number of responses.
Variable-Ratio (VR) schedule delivers reinforcement after an average number of responses, with variations.
Fixed-Interval (FI) schedule delivers reinforcement for the first response after a fixed time interval.
Variable-Interval (VI) schedule delivers reinforcement on average after a specific time interval, with variations.

Reinforcers

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus, increasing the probability of a behavior.
Escape conditioning allows an organism to escape from an aversive stimulus.
Avoidance conditioning allows an organism to avoid an aversive stimulus before it begins.

Punishment

Punishment refers to a stimulus that decreases the probability of a behavior when made contingent upon it.
Positive punishment involves delivering an aversive stimulus after a response.
Negative punishment involves removing a desired stimulus after a response.

Observational Learning

Observational learning involves learning from the experiences of others.
Individuals may imitate observed behaviors, whether rewarded or punished, as shown in Bandura's Bobo doll experiments.

Bandura's Bobo doll experiments demonstrated the impact of observing a model's behavior, showcasing the role of reinforcement, similarity to the observer, and other factors influencing learning.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of classical conditioning in psychology. This quiz covers key concepts such as learning-performance distinction, habituation, and the contributions of Ivan Pavlov. Test your understanding of essential terms and processes involved in classical conditioning.