Psychology Learning Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the key ideas that support the definition of learning?

Learning is based on experience, produces changes in the organism, and these changes are relatively permanent.

How do habituation and sensitization occur?

Habituation is a reduction in response to repeated exposure to a stimulus, while sensitization results in increased responsiveness to a stimulus.

Why do some dogs seem to know when it's dinnertime?

Dogs associate the presentation of food with the signals of their owner preparing food.

If both an unconditioned and conditioned stimulus can produce the same effect, then what's the difference?

The conditioned stimulus must be presented alongside the unconditioned stimulus to become a non-neutral stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is second order conditioning?

A type of learning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a stimulus that was previously associated with an unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

How does a conditioned behavior change when the unconditioned stimulus is removed?

The response undergoes extinction, which involves the gradual elimination of the learned response. Signup and view all the answers

Why are generalization and discrimination 'two sides of the same coin'?

Generalization allows a conditioned response to occur to similar stimuli, whereas discrimination allows differentiation between them. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Albert fear the rat?

Albert experienced a loud noise whenever he was near the rat, leading to a fear response even without the noise. Signup and view all the answers

How does the role of expectation in conditioning challenge behaviorist ideas?

Classical conditioning incorporates cognitive elements, suggesting it is more complex than behaviorists propose. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the amygdala in fear conditioning?

The amygdala is crucial for emotional responses, including fear, and its disruption leads to loss of fear responses. Signup and view all the answers

How has cancer patients' discomfort been eased by our understanding of food aversions?

Patients are given unusual food before treatment to limit conditioned aversions to typical food post-treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of effect?

Responses followed by satisfaction are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by discomfort are less likely. Signup and view all the answers

What do 'positive' and 'negative' mean in operant conditioning?

Positive refers to introducing a stimulus to increase behavior, while negative involves removing a stimulus to decrease behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Why is reinforcement more constructive than punishment in learning desired behavior?

Reinforcement encourages desired behavior, while punishment only highlights unacceptable actions without guidance. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning Concepts

Learning is defined as the acquisition of new knowledge or skills through experience that leads to lasting changes in the learner.
Key aspects of learning include its basis in experience, the changes it produces, and the permanence of those changes.

Habituation and Sensitization

Habituation: This process involves a decrease in response due to repeated exposure to a stimulus, such as becoming accustomed to traffic sounds after moving near a busy road.
Sensitization: This occurs when an initial stimulus causes heightened responses to subsequent stimuli, exemplified by increased sensitivity to noises after a traumatic event, like a break-in.

Classical Conditioning

Dogs learn to anticipate mealtime through a combination of stimuli such as the owner preparing food, which becomes associated with salivation even before seeing the food.
A Conditioned Stimulus (CS) must be paired with an Unconditioned Stimulus (US) to transition from a neutral state to producing a conditioned response.

Second Order Conditioning

Involves pairing a new CS with an existing CS that has already been associated with a US, leading to responses to the new CS.

Extinction in Conditioning

Extinction occurs when a CS is presented without the US repeatedly, leading to the gradual loss of the conditioned response.

Generalization and Discrimination

Generalization: Response to a stimulus that is similar to the original CS used during acquisition.
Discrimination: The ability to differentiate between distinct stimuli.
These two processes are interrelated—enhancing one can diminish the other.

Fear Conditioning Example

Albert's conditioned fear of a white rat was established through a loud noise that coincided with the rat's presence, leading to an automatic fear response.

Cognitive Elements in Conditioning

Classical conditioning incorporates cognitive elements, revealing that it is a more complex process than previously thought by behaviorists.

Amygdala and Fear Responses

The amygdala is crucial for experiencing emotions like fear; disruption of connections to other brain regions can alter fear responses and associated autonomic reactions.

Food Aversions and Cancer Treatment

Unusual food items administered just before treatment can lead to conditioned aversions, helping to mitigate discomfort during cancer therapies through classical conditioning.

Law of Effect

Proposed by Thorndike, this principle states that behaviors leading to satisfaction are more likely to be repeated, while those that result in discomfort are less likely to occur.

Operant Conditioning Terms

Positive Reinforcement: Introduction of a pleasant stimulus to encourage repeating a behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: Removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior.
Positive Punishment: Introduction of an unpleasant stimulus to reduce a behavior.
Negative Punishment: Removal of a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Reinforcement is generally more effective than punishment for encouraging desired behavior, as it promotes understanding and learning of acceptable actions rather than merely indicating incorrect behaviors.

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Description

Test your knowledge of fundamental learning concepts including habituation, sensitization, and classical conditioning. This quiz will assess your understanding of how learning occurs through experience and the lasting changes it brings. Discover key principles of behavioral responses and conditioning!