Chapter 5
Learning
Learning Objectives
What Is Learning?, pp. 186-187
1.
Define learning and conditioning, and name the forms of conditioning.
Classical Conditioning: Associating Stimuli, pp. 187-199
2.
Describe the background that led to Ivan Pavlov’s discovery of classical conditioning, and the procedures
he developed to create a classically conditioned response.
3.
Define and give examples of each of the following: unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response,
conditioned stimulus, and conditioned response.
4.
Identify factors that can affect the strength of a classically conditioned response, and give examples of
generalization and discrimination, extinction, and spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning.
5.
Discuss John Watson’s views on the nature of psychology and describe the basic principles of behaviorism.
6.
Describe Watson and Rayner’s famous “Little Albert” study and the conditioning of emotional reactions.
7.
Explain how Watson applied classical conditioning principles to advertising.
8.
Describe how classical conditioning can explain some placebo responses and how conditioned
compensatory responses can be applied to drug tolerance, addiction, and withdrawal symptoms.
Contemporary Views of Classical Conditioning, pp. 200-204
9.
Describe Robert Rescorla’s research and how it demonstrated the role of cognitive processes in classical
conditioning.
10.
Discuss John Garcia’s research on taste aversions, and explain how taste aversions appeared to violate key
aspects of the classical conditioning model.
11.
Explain how the notion of biological preparedness can be applied to taste aversions and phobias.
Operant Conditioning: Associating Behaviors and Consequences, pp. 205-220
12.
Discuss Edward Thorndike’s contributions to the study of learning, and define the law of effect.
13.
Discuss Skinner’s views as a behaviorist, noting his beliefs about the proper subject matter of psychology
and his belief that free will is an illusion (free will answer on pg. 214-215).
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Chapter 5
Learning
14.
Describe the basic principles of operant conditioning, and define and give examples of reinforcement,
primary and conditioned reinforcers, punishment by application and punishment by removal, and
discriminative stimuli.
15.
Explain the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment, and give examples of each.
16.
Describe four strategies to reduce undesirable behaviors without resorting to punishment and ways to
enhance the effectiveness of positive reinforcement.
17.
Explain the difference between continuous and partial reinforcement, then describe and give
examples of each of the four schedules of reinforcement.
18.
Give examples of how shaping, behavior modification, and other operant conditioning principles can
be used to develop new behaviors.
Contemporary Views of Operant Conditioning, pp. 221-226
19.
Discuss how Edward Tolman’s research demonstrated the role of cognitive factors in operant
conditioning, and explain the meaning and importance of cognitive maps and latent learning.
20.
Explain the phenomenon of learned helplessness, noting how it provided additional evidence for the
role of mental factors in learning, and describe how learned helplessness can be overcome.
21.
Define instinctive drift and discuss how it challenged the traditional behavioral view of operant
conditioning.
Observational Learning: Imitating the Actions of Others, pp. 226-230
22.
Describe Albert Bandura’s classic studies on observational learning, identify factors that increase the
likelihood of imitation occurring, and discuss research on observational learning in nonhuman
animals.
23.
Discuss research on the link between media violence and aggressive behavior, including the role of
observational learning.
Application: Using Learning Principles to Improve Self-Control, p. 232
24.
Explain how the relative value of reinforcers can change over time, and identify five strategies that
can help you stay focused on long-term reinforcers.
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