Psychology Learning Concepts Quiz

Questions and Answers

Teaching your cat to turn on the living room lights would best be accomplished by which method?

Extinction

Shaping (correct)

Spontaneous recovery

Classical conditioning

In operant conditioning, the reinforcer occurs the response, and in classical conditioning, it occurs .

after; before

Two principles of conditioning that have aided our learning and improved our adaptability as a species are

Spontaneous recovery and extinction

Lower order and higher order conditioning

Stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination (correct)

Extinction and inhibition

Learning is best defined as

A relatively permanent change in behavior due to past experience Signup and view all the answers

Responses that are reinforced and tend to be repeated illustrate which concept?

Operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

To be effective, punishment should be

Paired with reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the unusual events that occurred in Pavlov's laboratory leading him to the discovery of classical conditioning?

Dogs sometimes salivated before meat powder was placed in their mouths Signup and view all the answers

After weeks of successful extinction trials, your pet dachshund suddenly resumes burying bones in the front yard. Your pet therapist advises you that the dog's behavior is an example of

Spontaneous recovery Signup and view all the answers

Operant conditioning is to Skinner as classical conditioning is to

Pavlov Signup and view all the answers

Classical conditioning is most often used to condition

Reflexes Signup and view all the answers

In __________ reinforcement, the reinforcer follows every correct response.

Continuous Signup and view all the answers

In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, salivation was the:

Unconditioned response Signup and view all the answers

The presentation of an aversive stimulus or the removal of a positive stimulus are both examples of:

Punishment Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, learning is evident when a:

Stimulus which did not initially produce a response now elicits that response Signup and view all the answers

In Thorndike's law of effect, events critical for conditioning:

Occur after the response Signup and view all the answers

If you have a snake phobia because you once heard a loud noise while looking at a snake, for you a snake is a(n):

CS Signup and view all the answers

A series of responses that gradually approach a desired pattern of behavior are called:

Successive approximations Signup and view all the answers

If the conditioned stimulus is presented many times without reinforcement, we can expect:

Extinction to occur Signup and view all the answers

A child has learned to avoid a furry, black cat. However, she still plays with her grandmother's short-haired tabby. Her response demonstrates:

Discrimination Signup and view all the answers

Punishment is most effective in suppressing behavior when it is:

Immediate, consistent, and intense Signup and view all the answers

The greatest degree of resistance to extinction is typically caused by a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Variable ratio Signup and view all the answers

In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, the conditioned stimulus was the:

Bell Signup and view all the answers

Ivan Pavlov has been credited with the initial discovery of:

Classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, the bell (prior to conditioning) was the:

Neutral stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Reinforcement in operant conditioning is most effective when it is:

Response contingent Signup and view all the answers

After pairing the CS and US in a series of conditioning trials, the organism learns to respond to the CS alone. This response is then called:

Conditioned response Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reinforcement and Conditioning

Continuous Reinforcement: Involves providing a reinforcer after every correct response.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Naturally triggers an unconditioned response (UR) without prior conditioning.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Initially neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a conditioned response (CR).
Operant Conditioning: Learning occurs through reinforcement, where correct responses are rewarded.

Punishment and Reinforcement

Punishment: A strategy used to decrease undesired behavior, most effective when immediate and consistent.
Negative Reinforcement: Involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking medication to relieve pain).
Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to encourage repeated behavior (e.g., giving stickers for good behavior).
Resistance to Extinction: Reinforcement schedules like variable ratio create strong resistance to extinction.

Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning: Learning where a neutral stimulus acquires the ability to evoke a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Operant Conditioning: Learning based on consequences, where behavior is modified through reinforcement or punishment.

Learning Concepts

Successive Approximations: Gradual reinforcement of behaviors that increasingly resemble the desired behavior.
Stimulus Generalization: A conditioned response spreads from one stimulus to similar stimuli (e.g., fear of all furry objects after being bitten by a specific dog).
Stimulus Discrimination: The ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond differently (e.g., not fearing all dogs after a bad experience with just one).

Conditioned Responses and Learning Techniques

Spontaneous Recovery: The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction.
Desensitization: Gradually exposing individuals to a feared stimulus in a controlled manner to reduce fear responses.
Shaping: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a final desired behavior.
Feedback: Positive feedback generally enhances learning and performance.

Experimental Examples

Pavlov's Dogs: Demonstrated classical conditioning; dogs learned to salivate to the sound of a bell that was repeatedly associated with food.
Little Albert Experiment: Showed how fear can be conditioned; a child learned to fear a rat which generalized to other furry objects.
Skinner Box: Used to study operant conditioning by reinforcing behaviors through a reward system.

Scheduling Reinforcement

Fixed Ratio Schedule: A set number of responses required for each reward (e.g., earning a sticker after five good actions).
Variable Ratio Schedule: Rewards are given after an unpredictable number of responses; effective in maintaining behavior consistency.

Important Figures

B.F. Skinner: Key figure in developing operant conditioning theories and experiments.
Ivan Pavlov: Known for classical conditioning research, particularly his experiments with dogs.

Final Notes

Learning Definition: A relatively permanent change in behavior due to past experiences.
Primary vs. Secondary Reinforcers: Primary reinforcers are innate (e.g., food), while secondary reinforcers must be learned or conditioned (e.g., money, grades).

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts in psychology related to reinforcement and classical conditioning. This quiz covers fundamental terms and definitions, including continuous reinforcement and Pavlov's experiments. Perfect for psychology students looking to reinforce their studies!