Psychology Flashcards: Learning Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is Aristotle's law of association by contiguity?

To associate two items together when they occur frequently.

What is learning?

A process by which something that happens at one time alters behavior at a later time.

What is operationalism?

Using methods to validate a scientific finding with observable or precisely defined elements.

What is an operational definition?

The specific process in which you describe how you validated the study. Signup and view all the answers

What did operationalism do for non-behaviorists?

Opened the door for the scientific study of the mind and mental activity. Signup and view all the answers

What did operationalism do for behaviorists?

Restricted their explorations to non-mental aspects. Signup and view all the answers

What is classical conditioning?

Occurs when a stimulus that didn't cause a response comes to cause one. Signup and view all the answers

What was Pavlov's first experiment?

Gave dog meat resulting in the dog drooling. Signup and view all the answers

What was Pavlov's second experiment?

Rang a bell and then immediately gave the dog meat multiple times. Signup and view all the answers

What was the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlov's classic experiment?

Food. Signup and view all the answers

What was the neutral stimulus in Pavlov's experiment?

Bell (before learning). Signup and view all the answers

What was the conditioned stimulus in Pavlov's experiment?

Bell (after learning). Signup and view all the answers

What was the unconditioned response in Pavlov's experiment?

Drool. Signup and view all the answers

What was the conditioned response in Pavlov's experiment?

Drool (in response to the bell). Signup and view all the answers

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

When the conditioned response (drool) is no longer caused by the conditioned stimulus (bell). Signup and view all the answers

What causes extinction?

The animal receives the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What causes recovery?

When the conditioned response reappears after it has become extinct. Signup and view all the answers

What causes generalization?

When stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus cause a conditioned response. Signup and view all the answers

What is discrimination training?

When responses to the conditioned stimulus are paired with the unconditioned stimulus, while those similar stimuli are not. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conditioned emotional response?

A fear reflex that naturally occurs in babies. Signup and view all the answers

What was Watson's experiment?

Put a fuzzy rat in front of a baby, made a loud noise, and repeated this. Signup and view all the answers

What was Thorndike's law of effect?

A response resulting in pleasure is more likely to be repeated than one resulting in pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is operant conditioning?

A learning process where consequences influence the likelihood of repeating a response. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Skinner's box more efficient than the puzzle box?

The animal can respond many times without the experimenter having to interfere. Signup and view all the answers

What did Skinner not believe in?

Did not use the terms memory, attention, thinking, or awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What does a reinforcer do in operant conditioning?

Increases the frequency of an operant response. Signup and view all the answers

What does a punisher do?

Decreases the frequency of an operant response. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Aristotle's Law of Association

Association by contiguity: associating two items together when they frequently occur together, like picturing a goose when hearing the word "goose."

Learning

Defined as a process where an event influences future behavior, mediated by the nervous system rather than immediate responses.

Operationalism

A methodological approach that validates scientific findings through observable phenomena, requiring precise definitions.

Operational Definition

Describes how a study's validation is conducted, allowing independent measurement or testing by others.

Impact of Operationalism on Non-Behaviorists

Opened pathways for the scientific study of the mind and mental activities.

Impact of Operationalism on Behaviorists

Limited their focus to non-mental aspects, as the concept of studying mental processes appeared irrelevant.

Classical Conditioning

Involves learning where a previously neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response, such as reflex actions.

Pavlov's First Experiment

Presented dogs with food, resulting in drooling behavior.

Pavlov's Second Experiment

Introduced a bell before giving food repeatedly, leading to dogs salivating to the bell alone after sufficient trials.

Unconditioned Stimulus in Pavlov's Experiment

Food was the unconditioned stimulus that naturally caused a response.

Neutral Stimulus in Pavlov's Experiment

The bell represented a neutral stimulus before conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus in Pavlov's Experiment

The bell became the conditioned stimulus after learning.

Unconditioned Response in Pavlov's Experiment

Drooling was the unconditioned response triggered by food.

Conditioned Response in Pavlov's Experiment

Drooling in response to the bell became the conditioned response.

Extinction in Classical Conditioning

Occurs when a conditioned response no longer follows the conditioned stimulus.

Causes of Extinction

Each instance of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus weakens the conditioned response until it eventually disappears.

Recovery in Classical Conditioning

Refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response after it has been extinguished.

Generalization in Classical Conditioning

Involves responding to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus, triggering the same response.

Discrimination Training

A process where responses to the conditioned stimulus are reinforced while similar stimuli are not, helping the subject distinguish between them.

Conditioned Emotional Response

A natural fear reflex seen in infants, observable when a loud noise is made near them, provoking a reaction.

Watson's Experiment

Demonstrated conditioned emotional response by repeatedly presenting a fuzzy rat alongside a loud noise, resulting in the baby developing a fear of the rat.

Thorndike's Law of Effect

States that responses followed by pleasurable outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while responses followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where the consequences of behavior shape future responses, either encouraging or discouraging them.

Efficiency of Skinner's Box

Allows for multiple responses from the animal without requiring intervention from the experimenter, increasing efficiency.

Skinner's Views on Psychology Terms

Rejected the concepts of memory, attention, thinking, and awareness as useful in psychological research.

Role of Reinforcers in Operant Conditioning

Reinforcers increase the frequency of operant responses, shaping behavior positively.

Role of Punishers in Operant Conditioning

Punishers decrease the frequency of operant responses, discouraging certain behaviors.

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Description

This quiz features essential terms and concepts in psychology including Aristotle's law of association by contiguity and the definition of learning. Test your knowledge on how these concepts relate to human behavior and cognitive processes. Perfect for students seeking to deepen their understanding of psychological theories.