Psych Learning Quiz study guide

Mod 3.7a – “Classical Conditioning: Basic Concepts”

• Learning: A lasting change in behavior due to experience.

• Habituation: Decreased response to a repeated stimulus over time.

• Associative Learning: Learning that two events occur together (like stimulus + response).

• Behaviorism: Psychology view that studies behavior without referencing mental processes.

• Classical Conditioning: Learning to link two stimuli to anticipate events.

  • NS (Neutral Stimulus): A stimulus that initially produces no response.

  • UCS (Unconditioned Stimulus): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

  • UCR (Unconditioned Response): The natural response to the UCS.

  • CS (Conditioned Stimulus): Previously NS, now triggers a learned response.

  • CR (Conditioned Response): Learned response to the CS.

• Acquisition: The initial stage of learning the stimulus-response link.

• Extinction: The weakening of a CR when the CS is no longer paired with the UCS.

• Spontaneous Recovery: Reappearance of a weakened CR after a rest period.

• Generalization: Responding similarly to stimuli like the CS.

• Discrimination: Learning to respond only to the CS, not similar stimuli.

Mod 3.7b – “Classical Conditioning: Applications & Biological Limits”

• Preparedness: Biological tendency to learn certain associations (like fear of snakes) more easily.

• Taste Aversion: Avoiding a food after getting sick from it, even once.

Mod 3.8a & b – “Operant Conditioning”

• Operant Conditioning: Learning where behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences.

• Law of Effect: Behaviors followed by rewards are more likely to happen again.

• Operant Chamber/Skinner Box: A box used to study animal behavior and rewards.

• Reinforcement: Increases behavior.

  • Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant to increase behavior.

  • Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior.

• Shaping: Gradually guiding behavior using reinforcers toward a desired outcome.

• Primary Reinforcers: Naturally satisfying (like food or water).

• Secondary Reinforcers: Learned value (like money or praise).

• Continuous Reinforcement: Reinforcing the behavior every time it occurs.

• Partial/Intermittent Reinforcement: Reinforcing only sometimes; slower learning but more resistant to extinction.

  • Fixed-Ratio: Reinforce after a set number of responses.

  • Variable-Ratio: Reinforce after an unpredictable number of responses.

  • Fixed-Interval: Reinforce after a fixed amount of time.

  • Variable-Interval: Reinforce after changing time intervals.

• Punishment: Decreases behavior.

  • Positive Punishment: Adding something unpleasant to reduce behavior.

  • Negative Punishment: Taking away something pleasant to reduce behavior.

Mod 3.9 – “Social, Cognitive, & Neurological Factors in Learning”

• Cognitive Map: Mental layout of an environment.

• Latent Learning: Learning that happens but isn’t shown until there’s a reason to use it.

• Insight Learning: Sudden realization of a solution without trial and error.

• Observational Learning: Learning by watching others.

• Modeling: Imitating someone else’s behavior.

• Mirror Neurons: Brain cells that fire both when we act and when we see someone else act.

• Prosocial Behavior: Positive, helpful actions.

• Antisocial Behavior: Negative, harmful actions.