Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking, by Lilienfeld et.al. (2010): Chapter 5
Introduction
1
How do the authors define ‘learning?’
2
Explain and give an example, not found in the book, of ‘habituation.
Classical Conditioning
3
a) What does unconditioned mean in the context of learning?
b) What does conditioned mean in the context of learning?
4
c) What does stimulus refer to in the context of learning?
d) What does response mean in the context of learning?
5
Explain what the neutral stimulus and orienting response are. (from class)
6
Using Figure 5.1 as a reference, give an example from your own life of classical conditioning.
Identify the different components in your example.
7
Go to this site: http://nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/pavlov/ Try to condition the dog. Did
you earn your certificate?
8
Explain how each of the following happen in classical conditioning:
 Acquisition

Extinction

Spontaneous Recovery
Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking, by Lilienfeld et.al. (2010): Chapter 5
9
Explain what is happening in Figure 2, i.e., explain how acquisition and extinction happen in
classical conditioning.
10
Explain each of the following and give an example of each from your own lives:
 Stimulus Generalization

Stimulus Discrimination
11
What is ‘higher order conditioning?’ Give an example.
12
What were the ethical problems in the case of Little Albert?
Operant Conditioning
13
a) What does a reinforcer do?
b) What does a punisher do?
14
a) What does positive mean in the context of learning?
b) What does negative mean in the context of learning?
Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking, by Lilienfeld et.al. (2010): Chapter 5
15
Fill in the following table (from class)
Table of consequences
16
How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning? (in part from class)
17
What is the “Law of Effect.”
18
List some shortcomings of punishment.
19
Explain and give an example, not found in the book, of a ‘discriminative stimulus.’
20
Explain how each of the following happen in operant conditioning:
 Acquisition

Extinction

Spontaneous Recovery
Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking, by Lilienfeld et.al. (2010): Chapter 5
21
Explain each of the following and give an example of each from your own lives:
 Generalization

22
Stimulus Discrimination
Explain and give an example of:
 Target behaviors

Primary reinforcers

Secondary reinforcers
Cognitive Models of Learning
23
On page 172, the authors state: “Instead, the organism’s response to a stimulus depends on what
this stimulus means to it.” Explain this remark; include reference to the S-R model.
24
Why would ‘latent learning’ pose a problem for the theories of behaviorism advocated by
behaviorists?
25
On page 173, the authors state: “Many psychologists regard observational learning as a form of
latent learning because it allows us to learn without reinforcement.” Explain and give an example
not found in the book.
Psychology: A Framework for Everyday Thinking, by Lilienfeld et.al. (2010): Chapter 5
Biological Influences on Learning
26
On page 176 there is a picture of a coyote. What point are the authors trying to make with that
image?
27
Why is ‘equipotentiality’ a theoretical problem for traditional behaviorists? (By “theoretical
problem,” I mean that it is hard to explain what is going on if one uses only the principles of
traditional behaviorism.)
28
On page 178, the authors state: “Still, the laboratory evidence for preparedness isn’t completely
consistent.” Explain.
29
Why is ‘instinctive drift’ a theoretical problem for traditional behaviorists?
Learning Fads: Do They Work?
30
What is the evidence for the efficacy of ‘sleep-assisted learning,’ ‘discovery learning,’ and the use
of ‘learning styles?’