Unit 5 Study Guide: Learning
Important Dates:
11/7: Quiz
11/14: Unit Test (All work for unit due)
Standards Covered:
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• Distinguish general differences between principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning (e.g.,
contingencies).
• Describe basic classical conditioning phenomena, such as acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization,
discrimination, and higher-order learning.
• Predict the effects of operant conditioning (e.g., positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment).
• Predict how practice, schedules of reinforcement, and motivation will influence quality of learning.
• Interpret graphs that exhibit the results of learning experiments.
• Provide examples of how biological constraints create learning predispositions.
• Describe the essential characteristics of insight learning, latent learning, and social learning.
• Apply learning principles to explain emotional learning, taste aversion, superstitious behavior, and learned helplessness.
• Suggest how behavior modification, biofeedback, coping strategies, and self-control can be used to address behavioral problems.
• Identify key contributors in the psychology of learning (e.g., Albert Bandura, John Garcia, Ivan Pavlov, Robert Rescorla, B. F.
Skinner, Edward Thorndike, Edward Tolman, John B. Watson).
Daily Guide: Follow the Guide to Stay Up on Your Work.
Date:
Thursday
10/30
In Class:
1. Unit 4 Test
Friday
10/31
1. Video: Habituation and Dishabituation Video:
2. Discussion: Our Habituation and Dishabituation
habits
3. Sensitization and dishabituation project
Monday
11/3
1. Discussion: Sensation Assignment
2. Video: Pavlov and his dogs
3. Discussion: Pavlovian Conditioning
4. Notes: Classical Conditioning
Homework:
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 193 “to” Pg. 196 Classical
Conditioning)
2. Define:
-Learning, Habituation, Dishabituation, Sensitization
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-Briefly explain why the ability to learn is one of the most
important psychological processes that we have.
-Briefly explain how habituation and sensitization can
determine our responses to different stimuli.
1. Work on sensitization assignment
2. Bookwork
a. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 196 Classical Conditioning “to” Pg.
204 Instrumental…)
b. Define:
-Classical Conditioning, Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS),
Unconditioned Response (UCR), Conditioned Stimulus
(CS)Conditioned Response (CR), Extinction,
Reconditioning, Spontaneous Recovery, Stimulus
Generalization, Stimulus Discrimination, Second-Order
Conditioning
c. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-Briefly explain why Pavlov’s discovery was important in
developing the concept of conditioning.
-Explain how signals, such as timing and biopreparedness
can help to explain the concept of classical conditioning
-Briefly explain how classical conditioning could be used
to help people other than those listed in the textbook.
1. Watch 6 minute video on Little Albert (Accessible on
website)
2. Summarize how Watson used the concepts of Classical
Conditioning to teach Little Albert to be afraid of fury
things.
Tuesday
11/4
1. Discussion: Little Albert and Classical Conditioning
2. Discussion: Uses of Classical Conditioning
Wednesday
11/5
1. Video: Big Bang Operant Conditioning
2. Discussion of Big Bang Video
3. Video: Gambling and Conditioning
4. Discussion of Gambling Video
5. Notes: Operants and Reinforcers and how they affect
us
1. Discussion of Operant Conditioning and
Reinforcement summaries
2. Notes: Forming and Strengthening Operant Behavior
3. Operant Conditioning Experiment: teaching students
to sing and dance for extra credit
Thursday
11/6
Friday
11/7
1. Performances: Singing and dancing for extra credit
2. Video: Dog Training using Operant Conditioning
3. Question: Why does Operant Conditioning work
very well with dogs and other animals, but often fails to
extinguish certain behaviors within people?
4. Discussion
Monday
11/10
1. FRQ PRACTICE: Started in class (Due Thursday)
Tuesday
11/11
Wednesday
11/12
Nothing: Veteran’s Day
1. Discussion: Cognition and Learning
2. Notes: Modern Theories of Learning and Education
3. Discussion: What needs to be done to turn the
American Educational System into the best Educational
system in the World?
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 204 Instrumental and Operant… to
Pg. 210 Forming and Strengthening Operant Behavior)
2. Define:
-Law of Effect, Instrumental Conditioning, Operant
Conditioning, Operant, Reinforcer, Positive Reinforcers,
Negative Reinforcement, Escape Conditioning, Avoidance
Conditioning, Discriminative Stimuli
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-How have psychologists used devices, such as boxes to
experiment on operant conditioning?
-How are operants and reinforcers used to modify
behavior?
-How do escape conditioning and avoidance conditioning
help us to avoid negative reinforcement?
1. 1 Page Summary: How might one use operant
conditioning and reinforcement to encourage better
behavior from a person or a group?
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 210 Forming and Strengthening
Operant Behavior to Pg. 214 Punishment)
2. Define:
-Shaping, Primary Reinforcer, Secondary Reinforcer,
Continuous Reinforcement Schedule, Partial
Reinforcement Schedule, Fixed Ration (FR) Schedule,
Variable Ration (VR) Schedule, Fixed-Interval (FI)
Schedule, Variable Interval (VI) Schedule, Extinction,
Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-How do primary and secondary reinforcers work to shape
people’s behaviors?
-How do reinforcement schedules work to shape people’s
behaviors?
-How does extinction prove that operant conditioning has
been effective in learning?
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 214 Punishment to Pg. 218
Cognitive Processes in Learning)
2. Define:
-Punishment
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-How does punishment differ from reinforcement?
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 218 Cognitive Processes in
Learning to Pg. 228 Using Research on Learning)
2. Define:
-Learned Helplessness, Latent Learning, Cognitive Map,
Insight, Observational Learning, Vicarious Learning,
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-How can learned helplessness lead people to give up on
trying to change their environment?
-Why is observational learning important for children?
Notes: Cognitive Processes in Learning
1. Read Chapter 6 (Pg. 228 Using Research on Learning to
Pg. 231 End of Chapter)
2. Define:
-Active Learning, Skill Learning
Thursday
11/13
Friday
11/14
Unit 5 Test Review
Unit 5 Test
-Turn in all Unit Work
-Turn in Flashcards (10 pts. Extra credit)
3. Question: answer each of the following in a 3-5
sentence response
-How can active learning and skill learning be used to
teach people?
Prepare for Unit 5 Test: Check website if you need help
Begin Unit 6: States of Consciousness