Psychology Exam 3 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is operant conditioning?

Learning based on the consequences of responding.

What is an unconditioned stimulus (US)?

A stimulus that elicits a response without prior learning.

What is social cognition learning?

How people interact with their environment and use social information.

What is learning?

A change in behavior resulting from experience. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three ways we learn?

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. Signup and view all the answers

What is associative learning?

Learning that certain events occur together. Signup and view all the answers

What is classical conditioning?

Learning through association. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four steps in classical conditioning?

<ol> <li>US elicits a response. 2. Neutral stimulus is presented. 3. Neutral stimulus with US creates an unconditioned response. 4. Conditioned response occurs with the neutral stimulus.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences of behaviors, while classical conditioning involves learning through associations between stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of effect?

Behavior that is rewarded is likely to recur, whereas behavior that is punished is likely to decrease. Signup and view all the answers

What was B.F. Skinner's stance on learning?

External influences shape most of our behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What are mirror neurons?

Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing actions or observing others. Signup and view all the answers

What is social cognitive theory?

An approach that focuses on the interaction between individuals and their environments. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of emotions?

Intense, short-term physiological, behavioral, and psychological reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between threat appraisals and challenge appraisals?

Threat appraisals assess potential damage, while challenge appraisals focus on recovery and growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is stress?

A biological effect on events in one’s life and social influences. Signup and view all the answers

What is health psychology?

The focus on mental, emotional, and social factors affecting physical well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is major depressive disorder?

Involves at least 5 signs of depression in the last 2 or more weeks. Signup and view all the answers

What are the biological influences on depression?

Low levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the biopsychosocial model of health?

The idea that biological, psychological, and social factors all contribute to health. Signup and view all the answers

What is the vulnerability-stress model?

Individual characteristics combined with environmental stressors can influence psychological disorder development. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main types of anxiety disorders?

Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned response (CR)?

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

What is an unconditioned response (UR)?

A reflexive reaction produced by an unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A stimulus that elicits a response after learning has taken place. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Theories

Operant Conditioning: Involves learning through consequences that follow behaviors; responses are either reinforced or punished.
Associative Learning: Refers to learning that certain events occur together, linking stimuli to responses.
Classical Conditioning: A form of associative learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, producing a conditioned response after multiple pairings.
Social Cognition Learning: Highlights how individuals interact with their environment, emphasizing the selection, interpretation, and use of social information in decision-making.

Types of Learning

Three Ways of Learning: Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning are the primary methods of acquiring new behaviors.
Observational Learning: Acquired by observing and imitating others; it involves behavioral modeling and was famously illustrated by Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment.

Conditioning Processes

Classical Conditioning Steps:
- Begins with an unconditioned stimulus that evokes a natural response.
- Presentation of a neutral stimulus that initially elicits no response.
- Combination of the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus leads to the formation of a conditioned response.
- Over time, the neutral stimulus alone elicits a conditioned response.

Reinforcement and Punishment

Law of Effect: Behaviors followed by favorable consequences are likely to recur; those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to recur.
Types of Reinforcement:
- Positive Reinforcement: Involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., giving money for good grades).
- Negative Reinforcement: Involves removing an undesired stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., doing dishes to stop nagging).
Distinction from Punishment: Reinforcement strengthens behaviors, while punishment aims to decrease them.

Emotional Theories

Emotions: Short-term physiological and psychological responses to specific stimuli that prepare individuals to react.
James-Lange Theory: Emotions arise from physiological responses; we interpret bodily reactions to feelings.
Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and physiological reactions occur simultaneously yet independently after a stimulus.
Schachter-Singer Theory: Emotion is based on physiological arousal followed by a cognitive label.

Stress and Health

Stress: A biological and psychological response influenced by external social factors; can manifest as eustress (positive) or distress (negative).
Biopsychosocial Model of Health: Indicates that health and illness result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Coping Strategies: Include problem-focused coping, developing self-control, and practicing meditation to manage stress effectively.

Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorder: Defined by a collection of maladaptive symptoms that significantly interfere with daily functioning.
Vulnerability-Stress Model: Illustrates how individual characteristics and environmental stressors interact, potentially leading to psychological disorders.
Types of Anxiety Disorders: Include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, all influenced by classical conditioning, cognition, and biology.

Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder: Characterized by the presence of at least five symptoms of depression over a two-week period, including a depressed mood or loss of interest.
Bipolar Disorder: Involves extreme mood fluctuations, alternating between depressive and euphoric states.

Influences on Depression

Biological Influences: Low levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin are associated with mood disorders; exercise can enhance mood through serotonin increase.
Social-Cognitive Influences: Negative self-perceptions and rumination contribute to depression.

Attention and Stress

Attention Systems: Comprised of the orienting, alerting, and executive systems, which regulate focus, awareness, and goal alignment, respectively.
Stress Effects on Attention: Chronic stress can impair these systems, leading to negative thought patterns, hyper-vigilance, and impaired focus, which may result in attention deficit issues.

Positive Psychology

Adaptive Functions of Positive Emotions: Emotions like joy, curiosity, and love enhance well-being and resilience.
Practices for Well-Being: Strategies include recognizing three new gratitudes daily, engaging in random acts of kindness, and cultivating a positive mindset for improved life outlook.

Summary of Health Psychology

Health Psychology Focus: Examines how psychological factors influence physical health, emphasizing mental and emotional well-being’s role in overall health outcomes.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts from Psychology Exam 3 with these flashcards. Each card covers essential terms and definitions, such as Operant Conditioning and Unconditioned Stimulus. Perfect for review and self-assessment.