Psychology Unit 6 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of CS; US?

Secondary reinforcer; operant behavior

CS; US (correct)

Negative reinforcer; operant behavior

UR; CS

What happened after Watson classically conditioned 'Little Albert' to fear a tame white rat?

Generalization occurred: Albert responded with fear to other furry animals and fuzzy objects.

According to psychologists, learning is defined as:

A relatively enduring behavior change that occurs due to experience (correct)

Can only occur in humans

Only involves reflex behavior

Only occurs through observational learning

In Pavlov's experiment with dogs, salivating in response to the bell after associating the bell with food is called a(n):

Conditioned response Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist is known for the quote about training individuals regardless of their talents?

John B. Watson Signup and view all the answers

People and animals learn the association between two stimuli through _____ conditioning.

classical Signup and view all the answers

With classical conditioning, an organism comes to associate:

Two stimuli Signup and view all the answers

After John Watson lost his professorship, which career did he enter?

Advertising Signup and view all the answers

Marshall's nausea when he saw the hamburger after previously feeling ill is an example of:

Classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon was Pavlov focusing on when he began his studies on classical conditioning?

The digestive system Signup and view all the answers

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the conditioned stimulus (CS) used to produce fear was:

A white rat Signup and view all the answers

What type of conditioning is Dan using to train his dog Rocket?

Operant Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response?

Spontaneous recovery Signup and view all the answers

Watson and Rayner taught 'Little Albert' to fear white rats by:

Repeatedly pairing a loud noise with the presentation of a white rat Signup and view all the answers

Malia's nausea when she saw the hamburger is an example of what type of conditioning?

Classical Signup and view all the answers

John B. Watson believed that psychology should be the science of:

Observable behavior Signup and view all the answers

One of Pavlov's major contributions to psychology was to show how:

The discipline of psychology could be based on objective laboratory methods Signup and view all the answers

Which concept best describes Jill learning how to play tennis?

Observational learning Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, this is the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US):

Unconditioned response (UR) Signup and view all the answers

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the _____ was the unconditioned response (UR).

Fear of a loud noise Signup and view all the answers

Classical and operant conditioning involves learning through _, whereas observational learning involves learning through _.

Association; observation and imitation Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) after association with what?

Unconditioned stimulus (US) Signup and view all the answers

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the _____ was the conditioned response (CR).

Fear of the white rat Signup and view all the answers

In psychology, the term conditioning refers to:

Learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus is called the:

Conditioned response (CR) Signup and view all the answers

People and animals learn about the consequences of behavior through _____ conditioning.

operant Signup and view all the answers

Both Watson and Pavlov believed that psychology should study only _ and _ psychological phenomena.

Objective; observable Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, we learn to associate:

We learn to associate two stimuli and thus to anticipate events; we learn to associate a response (our behavior) and its consequence Signup and view all the answers

Pavlov found that spontaneous recovery occurred after a conditioned response was extinguished if:

After a few hours without the CS or the US, the tone was presented again Signup and view all the answers

Before the bell was presented, Pavlov's dog salivated each time food was presented. The _____ in this situation is salivation.

Unconditioned response Signup and view all the answers

What is the unconditioned response from the chemotherapy experienced by Jane?

Unconditioned response Signup and view all the answers

In classical and operant conditioning, we learn through _, whereas observational learning involves _ learning.

Association; observation and imitation Signup and view all the answers

After Watson classically conditioned 'Little Albert', what occurred?

Generalization Signup and view all the answers

What is the unconditioned stimulus in Jane's case of nausea and chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy Signup and view all the answers

What is the tendency to respond similarly to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus?

Generalization Signup and view all the answers

According to classical conditioning principles, what is the unconditioned stimulus in Marcus's bee sting scenario?

Bee sting Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT one of the significant findings from Pavlov's research?

Almost all behaviors can be shaped through classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

John's action of driving his car to work instead of the golf course exemplifies:

Habitual behavior Signup and view all the answers

In the conditioning of a flatworm by researchers, what is the electric shock classified as?

Unconditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of shaping in Skinner's conditioning process?

To guide an organism to exhibit complex behavior using successive approximations Signup and view all the answers

The cognitive processes involve the expectation that a response will be reinforced or punished are associated with which type of conditioning?

Operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

In Rescorla and Wagner's experiment, how did they explain the conditioned fear response?

An animal can learn the predictability of an event. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between punishment and reinforcement?

Increase a behavior Signup and view all the answers

What does B.F. Skinner believe shapes behavior?

Influences Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of external?

external Signup and view all the answers

Children who are promised a payoff for playing with an interesting toy have later been observed to play with the toy less than those who are not promised the reward. These findings provide support for the role of _____ in operant behavior.

Cognitive processes Signup and view all the answers

According to B.F. Skinner, what determines a person's behavior?

Environmental factors determine a person's behavior Signup and view all the answers

Who showed that an animal can learn the predictability of an event in a 1972 classical conditioning study?

Robert Rescorla Signup and view all the answers

What type of reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus after a response?

Negative Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of latent learning demonstrate?

Rewards affect performance of what has been learned rather than the process of learning itself. Signup and view all the answers

_____ involves any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Positive reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Who challenged the idea that natural behavior patterns do not affect operant conditioning principles?

Keller and Marian Breland Signup and view all the answers

With continuous reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _; with intermittent reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _.

Every time the desired behavior occurs; sporadically when the desired behavior occurs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes does NOT apply to both classical and operant conditioning?

Involuntary responses to stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Today's learning theorists recognize that our learning results from an interaction of _____ influences.

Biopsychosocial Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about B.F. Skinner's beliefs is true?

Skinner believed that human behavior is determined by environmental consequences, not by individual choice or free will. Signup and view all the answers

Robert Rescorla's research demonstrated the importance of _____ in classical conditioning.

Cognition Signup and view all the answers

Nanette's daughter received a time-out for throwing her toys. This is an example of:

Negative punishment Signup and view all the answers

What stimulus did B.F. Skinner believe was the best way to shape desirable behavior?

Positive reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Latent learning is:

Learning that is not demonstrated until one is motivated to perform the behavior. Signup and view all the answers

A word of praise is to a delicious meal as a conditioned reinforcer is to a(n) _____ reinforcer.

Primary Signup and view all the answers

While classical conditioning involves the conditioning of _ behavior, operant conditioning involves the conditioning of _ behavior.

Involuntary (automatic); voluntary Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist proposed a cognitive explanation of classical conditioning?

Robert Rescorla Signup and view all the answers

Fill in the blank: A word of praise is to a soothing back rub as _ is to _.

A conditioned reinforcer; a primary reinforcer Signup and view all the answers

In _____ conditioning, natural predispositions constrain what stimuli and responses can easily be associated.

Classical Signup and view all the answers

Coyotes that have been fed sheep carcasses laced with a nausea-inducing poison are less likely to prey on sheep. This phenomenon is best explained by which classical conditioning phenomenon?

Taste aversion Signup and view all the answers

If children get attention for doing cartwheels, they will repeat the trick if they find this attention to be enjoyable. This is an example of _____ conditioning.

Operant Signup and view all the answers

While classical conditioning involves the conditioning of involuntary behavior, operant conditioning involves the conditioning of _____ behavior.

Voluntary Signup and view all the answers

Findings from Garcia's research indicate that rats are more likely to develop aversions to _____ than to sights or sounds.

Taste Signup and view all the answers

___ behavior operates on the environment, whereas respondent behavior occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Operant Signup and view all the answers

The cognitive processes in _____ conditioning involve the organism developing an expectation that a response will be reinforced or punished with or without reinforcement.

Operant Signup and view all the answers

Taste aversion is a real-life example of which of the following types of learning?

Classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

The law of effect, stating that rewarded behavior is likely to recur, is associated with which psychologist?

Thorndike Signup and view all the answers

Critics of B.F. Skinner were concerned that he ignored the existence of personal freedom and dignity because he believed in:

The influence of environmental factors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is evidence that animals are predisposed to learn associations that help them adapt and survive in their environment?

Birds appearing biologically primed to develop aversions to the sight of tainted food because they hunt by sight Signup and view all the answers

A pigeon receives food for pecking a key, but only rarely and on unpredictable occasions. This best illustrates:

Partial reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the phenomenon of instinctive drift?

The biological predisposition to perform natural behaviors can interfere with learning operant behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

In _____ conditioning, an organism learns associations between events it doesn't control.

Classical Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, the acquisition of a new behavior involves associating _____, while in operant conditioning, it involves associating a response with a consequence.

Events Signup and view all the answers

An experimenter conditions a rat to press a lever in an operant conditioning chamber for positive reinforcement of food, but the rat becomes more interested in the cage floor. This is an example of:

Instinctive drift Signup and view all the answers

In experiments with rats where rewards were not initially given, the time needed to complete the maze decreased immediately when rewards were introduced. This caused researchers to conclude that:

Reinforcement is not necessary for learning to occur. Signup and view all the answers

Learning that is not immediately demonstrated in overt behavior is called:

Latent Signup and view all the answers

Punishment decreases the rate of operant responding, and negative reinforcement _____ the rate of operant responding.

Increases Signup and view all the answers

According to Darwin's principle of natural selection and Garcia's later work, taste aversions increase the likelihood of _____ in humans and other animals.

Survival Signup and view all the answers

Punishment _ the rate of operant responding, and negative reinforcement _ the rate of operant responding.

Decreases; increases Signup and view all the answers

According to operant conditioning principles, which of the following would NOT be recommended when dealing with a young girl who is resistant to going to school every morning?

Parents should express their anger by yelling at the girl. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a secondary reinforcer?

Food Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist studied the development of taste aversions that could not be explained by the basic principles of classical conditioning?

John Garcia Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Conditioning Concepts

Classical Conditioning: Learning where an originally neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (US), triggering a conditioned response (CR).
Operant Conditioning: Learning that occurs through rewards and punishments, where behavior is influenced by consequences.
Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of a behavior; can be positive (adding a favorable outcome) or negative (removing an aversive stimulus).
Generalization: Tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus (CS).
Discrimination: Ability to differentiate between the CS and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous Recovery: Reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest period, without further conditioning.

Key Figures

John B. Watson: Asserted psychology should focus on observable behavior. Noted for conditioning "Little Albert" to fear a white rat through association with a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus).
B.F. Skinner: Proposed that external factors influence behavior, developed the concept of operant conditioning, and emphasized reinforcement techniques such as shaping behavior using successive approximations.
Ivan Pavlov: Known for classical conditioning experiments with dogs, showing how different stimuli can be associated through a systematic approach.

Learning Mechanisms

Learning: Defined as a relatively enduring change in behavior due to experience.
Observational Learning: A form of learning that occurs through observing and imitating others, distinct from classical and operant conditioning.
Latent Learning: Learning that occurs without reinforcement but is not immediately reflected in behavior. Rewards may affect the performance of learned behaviors rather than the learning itself.

Experiment Highlights

Little Albert Experiment: Demonstrated classical conditioning in humans, where Albert generalized fear to all furry objects after being conditioned to fear a white rat.
Pavlov's Findings: Showed that dogs salivated at a tone (CS) after being conditioned with food (US), revealing insights into reflexive responses and learning mechanics.
Rescorla-Wagner Model: Confirmed that animals can learn to predict events and that association strength can vary based on predictability, changing how we understand classical conditioning.

Other Key Terms

Unconditioned Response (UR): Automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation in response to food.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Originally neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.
Conditioned Response (CR): Learned response to a conditioned stimulus, such as fear of a white rat in Little Albert.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Natural stimulus that triggers an unconditioned response, like a loud noise causing fear or food causing salivation.

Practical Applications

Behavioral Training: Methods like operant conditioning can be applied in training pets and in educational settings to enhance learning through reinforcement.
Understanding Fear and Aversion: Insights from classical conditioning can help in therapeutic settings to address phobias or aversions, such as in desensitization techniques.
Advertising: Concepts derived from conditioning theory, such as associating products with positive emotions, play a pivotal role in marketing strategies.### Reinforcement Concepts
Negative Reinforcement: Strengthens behavior by removing an aversive stimulus.
Positive Reinforcement: Strengthens behavior by presenting a desirable stimulus.
Moderate Reinforcement: A balanced approach between reinforcement types, often leading to consistent behavior without dependency.
Neutral Reinforcement: Does not significantly affect behavior; neither strengthens nor weakens.

Key Figures in Operant Conditioning

Keller and Marian Breland: Challenged the idea that natural behavior patterns are insignificant in operant conditioning effectiveness.
B.F. Skinner: Asserted that behavior is determined by environmental consequences rather than free will.
John Garcia: Researched taste aversions, demonstrating organisms' predispositions in learning.

Types of Reinforcement Schedules

Continuous Reinforcement: Reinforcement every time the desired behavior occurs, leading to quicker learning.
Intermittent Reinforcement: Reinforcement sporadically, leading to persistent behavior despite fewer rewards.

Learning Theories

Classical Conditioning: Involves involuntary responses to stimuli, associating an involuntary response to a significant stimulus.
Operant Conditioning: Involves conditioning voluntary behavior through consequences, focusing on reinforcement and punishment.
Latent Learning: Learning that occurs without immediate demonstration; revealed when motivation is present.

Cognitive Influences

Cognitive Processes in Learning: Acknowledged by modern theorists, recognizing that environment interacts with biological and psychological factors in learning.
Role of Expectation: In operant conditioning, organisms develop expectations about rewards or punishments, influencing their behavior.

Biological Constraints and Instincts

Instinctive Drift: The phenomenon where innate behaviors interfere with learned behaviors, highlighting biological predispositions in learning.
Taste Aversion: Biological inclination to avoid certain tastes associated with illness, an example of classical conditioning tied to survival.

Types and Effects of Punishment

Positive Punishment: Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.
Negative Punishment: Removing a desirable stimulus to reduce undesired behavior, often leads to a reduction in the behavior.
Impact on Learning: While punishment decreases behavior, negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

Secondary Reinforcers

Definition: Reinforcers that have acquired significance through association with primary reinforcers, such as money, praise, or grades.
Food as a Primary Reinforcer: Distinct as it naturally satisfies biological needs, not learned.

Experimental Findings

Importance of Rewards in Learning: Experiments with rats indicated reinforcement is not required for learning; knowledge can be gained without immediate rewards.
Expectations and Classical Conditioning: The disconnect between expectation and result highlights deeper cognitive processes involved in behavioral learning.

Psychological Perspectives

Critique of Skinner's Work: Concerns about dehumanization due to disregard for personal freedom and dignity when applying behaviorist principles.
Cognitive Psychology vs Behaviorism: Robert Rescorla's emphasis on cognitive processing contrasts with more traditional views focused solely on stimulus-response associations.

Applications in Real Life

Teaching Children: Understanding reinforcement and punishment dynamics can help parents guide behavior effectively without resorting to negative methods such as yelling.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on key concepts from Psychology Unit 6. Learn about secondary reinforcers, classical conditioning, and the famous Little Albert experiment. These flashcards cover essential terms and definitions that are crucial for understanding operant behavior and conditioning.

Psychology Unit 6 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of CS; US?

What happened after Watson classically conditioned 'Little Albert' to fear a tame white rat?

According to psychologists, learning is defined as:

In Pavlov's experiment with dogs, salivating in response to the bell after associating the bell with food is called a(n):

Which psychologist is known for the quote about training individuals regardless of their talents?

People and animals learn the association between two stimuli through _____ conditioning.

With classical conditioning, an organism comes to associate:

After John Watson lost his professorship, which career did he enter?

Marshall's nausea when he saw the hamburger after previously feeling ill is an example of:

What phenomenon was Pavlov focusing on when he began his studies on classical conditioning?

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the conditioned stimulus (CS) used to produce fear was:

What type of conditioning is Dan using to train his dog Rocket?

What is the term for the reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response?

Watson and Rayner taught 'Little Albert' to fear white rats by:

Malia's nausea when she saw the hamburger is an example of what type of conditioning?

John B. Watson believed that psychology should be the science of:

One of Pavlov's major contributions to psychology was to show how:

Which concept best describes Jill learning how to play tennis?

In classical conditioning, this is the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US):

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the _____ was the unconditioned response (UR).

Classical and operant conditioning involves learning through _____, whereas observational learning involves learning through _____.

In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) after association with what?

In Watson and Rayner's experiment with Little Albert, the _____ was the conditioned response (CR).

In psychology, the term conditioning refers to:

In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus is called the:

People and animals learn about the consequences of behavior through _____ conditioning.

Both Watson and Pavlov believed that psychology should study only _____ and _____ psychological phenomena.

In classical conditioning, we learn to associate:

Pavlov found that spontaneous recovery occurred after a conditioned response was extinguished if:

Before the bell was presented, Pavlov's dog salivated each time food was presented. The _____ in this situation is salivation.

What is the unconditioned response from the chemotherapy experienced by Jane?

In classical and operant conditioning, we learn through _____, whereas observational learning involves _____ learning.

After Watson classically conditioned 'Little Albert', what occurred?

What is the unconditioned stimulus in Jane's case of nausea and chemotherapy?

What is the tendency to respond similarly to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus?

According to classical conditioning principles, what is the unconditioned stimulus in Marcus's bee sting scenario?

What is NOT one of the significant findings from Pavlov's research?

John's action of driving his car to work instead of the golf course exemplifies:

In the conditioning of a flatworm by researchers, what is the electric shock classified as?

What is the purpose of shaping in Skinner's conditioning process?

The cognitive processes involve the expectation that a response will be reinforced or punished are associated with which type of conditioning?

In Rescorla and Wagner's experiment, how did they explain the conditioned fear response?

What is the main difference between punishment and reinforcement?

What does B.F. Skinner believe shapes behavior?

What is the definition of external?

Children who are promised a payoff for playing with an interesting toy have later been observed to play with the toy less than those who are not promised the reward. These findings provide support for the role of _____ in operant behavior.

According to B.F. Skinner, what determines a person's behavior?

Who showed that an animal can learn the predictability of an event in a 1972 classical conditioning study?

What type of reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus after a response?

What does the concept of latent learning demonstrate?

_____ involves any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Who challenged the idea that natural behavior patterns do not affect operant conditioning principles?

With continuous reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _____; with intermittent reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _____.

Which of the following processes does NOT apply to both classical and operant conditioning?

Today's learning theorists recognize that our learning results from an interaction of _____ influences.

Which statement about B.F. Skinner's beliefs is true?

Robert Rescorla's research demonstrated the importance of _____ in classical conditioning.

Nanette's daughter received a time-out for throwing her toys. This is an example of:

What stimulus did B.F. Skinner believe was the best way to shape desirable behavior?

Latent learning is:

A word of praise is to a delicious meal as a conditioned reinforcer is to a(n) _____ reinforcer.

While classical conditioning involves the conditioning of _____ behavior, operant conditioning involves the conditioning of _____ behavior.

Which psychologist proposed a cognitive explanation of classical conditioning?

Fill in the blank: A word of praise is to a soothing back rub as _____ is to _____.

In _____ conditioning, natural predispositions constrain what stimuli and responses can easily be associated.

Coyotes that have been fed sheep carcasses laced with a nausea-inducing poison are less likely to prey on sheep. This phenomenon is best explained by which classical conditioning phenomenon?

If children get attention for doing cartwheels, they will repeat the trick if they find this attention to be enjoyable. This is an example of _____ conditioning.

While classical conditioning involves the conditioning of involuntary behavior, operant conditioning involves the conditioning of _____ behavior.

Findings from Garcia's research indicate that rats are more likely to develop aversions to _____ than to sights or sounds.

___ behavior operates on the environment, whereas respondent behavior occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

The cognitive processes in _____ conditioning involve the organism developing an expectation that a response will be reinforced or punished with or without reinforcement.

Taste aversion is a real-life example of which of the following types of learning?

The law of effect, stating that rewarded behavior is likely to recur, is associated with which psychologist?

Critics of B.F. Skinner were concerned that he ignored the existence of personal freedom and dignity because he believed in:

Which of the following is evidence that animals are predisposed to learn associations that help them adapt and survive in their environment?

A pigeon receives food for pecking a key, but only rarely and on unpredictable occasions. This best illustrates:

Which statement best describes the phenomenon of instinctive drift?

In _____ conditioning, an organism learns associations between events it doesn't control.

Classical and operant conditioning involves learning through _, whereas observational learning involves learning through _.

Both Watson and Pavlov believed that psychology should study only _ and _ psychological phenomena.

In classical and operant conditioning, we learn through _, whereas observational learning involves _ learning.

With continuous reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _; with intermittent reinforcement, an organism is reinforced _.

While classical conditioning involves the conditioning of _ behavior, operant conditioning involves the conditioning of _ behavior.

Fill in the blank: A word of praise is to a soothing back rub as _ is to _.

Punishment _ the rate of operant responding, and negative reinforcement _ the rate of operant responding.