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Psychology

Unit 5

Learning

6 topics · 24 practice questions · Free responseNot yet reviewed

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Notes

Classical conditioning

  • Pavlov: a neutral stimulus paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that triggers a conditioned response (CR).
  • Processes: acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, discrimination.

Operant conditioning

  • Behavior is shaped by consequences. Reinforcement increases behavior; punishment decreases it. "Positive" adds a stimulus; "negative" removes one.
  • Schedules: fixed ratio, variable ratio (highest, steadiest rate, most resistant to extinction), fixed interval, variable interval.

Observational learning

  • Bandura: people learn by watching models, especially those who are rewarded or admired. Other cognitive learning includes latent and insight learning.

Topics in this unit

Each topic has its own short notes and practice.

Practice

Every time Ana hears the microwave beep, her mouth waters because she expects popcorn. The microwave beep is the:
Jordan gets a sticker every time he finishes a chapter, and he reads more. This is:
A teen's mom stops nagging her once she cleans her room, so she cleans more often. This is:
A worker earns a bonus after assembling 25 units, no matter how long it takes. This is a:
Which behavior is most resistant to extinction?
After watching a video where a character is rewarded for sharing, a child begins to share more. This best fits:

Free response

Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.

Free-response question

Sam is afraid of the dentist. Every time he hears the high-pitched sound of the dental drill, he feels his stomach tighten. His mom helps by giving him a sticker and praise each time he sits calmly in the chair.

(a) Identify the conditioned stimulus and the conditioned response in Sam's fear.

Show the answer and scoring guide

The conditioned stimulus is the sound of the drill. The conditioned response is the tightening stomach (fear).

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(b) Identify the type of conditioning in the sticker and praise and explain how it changes behavior.

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This is operant conditioning, specifically positive reinforcement. Adding stickers and praise after calm behavior makes calm behavior more likely.

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(c) Sam has several visits with no pain. Predict what will happen to his fear response and name the process.

Show the answer and scoring guide

His fear is likely to weaken, which is extinction, because the CS (drill sound) is no longer paired with the US (pain).

Check off the points you earned:

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