STUDY GUIDE: UNIT 6 – LEARNING
AP Psychology
In addition to the information in this study guide, you are also responsible for all of
the content in textbook (Chapter 6), all information from class notes/discussions,
videos, handouts and graphic organizers.
It’s AP – it’s all fair game 
Terms & Concepts
learning
associative learning
classical conditioning
behaviorism
unconditioned response
unconditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus
conditioned response
acquisition
higher-order conditioning
extinction
spontaneous recovery
generalization
discrimination
respondent behavior
operant conditioning
operant behavior
law of effect
operant chamber
shaping
reinforcer
positive reinforcement
negative reinforcement
primary reinforcer
conditioned reinforcer
continuous reinforcement
partial reinforcement
fixed-ratio schedule
variable-ratio schedule
fixed-interval schedule
variable-interval schedule
punishment
cognitive map
latent learning
intrinsic motivation
extrinsic motivation
observational learning
modeling
mirror neurons
prosocial behavior
Big Ideas
1: What are some basic forms of learning?
 Learning
 Associative learning
2: What is classical conditioning, and how did Pavlov’s work influence behaviorism?
 Ivan Pavlov
 John Watson
3: How does a neutral stimulus become a conditioned stimulus?
 US, UR, CS, CR
4: In classical conditioning, what are the processes of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous
recovery, generalization, and discrimination?
5: Do cognitive processes and biological constraints affect classical conditioning?
6: Why is Pavlov’s work important?
 Adapting to the environment
 Studying behavior objectively
7: What have been some applications of classical conditioning?
 Modern applications
 Watson & Little Albert
8: What is operant conditioning, and how does it differ from classical conditioning?
 Associations; behavior
 B.F. Skinner
 Skinner box
 Shaping
9: What are the basic types of reinforcers?
 Positive & negative
 Primary & secondary
 Delayed & immediate
10: How do different reinforcement schedules affect behavior?
 Continuous & partial schedules
 Ratio schedules
 Interval schedules
11: How does punishment affect behavior?
 Positive & negative punishment
 Negative effects
12: Do cognitive processes and biological constraints affect operant conditioning?
 Cognitive maps
 Latent learning
 Intrinsic & extrinsic motivation
13: How might operant conditioning principles be applied at school, at work, and at home?
14: What is observational learning, and how is it enabled by mirror neurons?
 Mirror neurons
 Bandura’s Bobo doll study
 Television
 Violence
15: What is the impact of prosocial modeling and of antisocial modeling?
 Prosocial modeling
 Antisocial effects (TV & video games)
 Violence-viewing effect
 Imitation
 Desensitization