Study Guide for Learning
CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
Discuss the importance of experience in learning and describe the role of association in
learning.
Describe the nature of classical conditioning and show how it demonstrates associative
learning.
Explain the processes of acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization
and discrimination.
Explain why learning theorists consider classically conditioned behaviors to be
biologically adaptive.
Discuss the importance of biological constraints in classical conditioning.
Describe two issues that have led to the recent reconsideration of behaviorism.
Discuss the importance of Pavlov’s work in classical conditioning.
Explain how Pavlov paved the way for the behaviorist position.
Explain why the study of classical conditioning is important.
Describe the Watson & Rayner experiment.
Provide a brief definition of the following KEY TERMS:
Learning
Associative learning
Classical conditioning
Behaviorism
Unconditioned response (UCR)
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Conditioned response (CR)
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Acquisition
Extinction
Spontaneous recovery
Generalilzation
Discrimination
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Describe the process of operant conditioning, including the procedure of shaping.
Identify the different types of reinforcers and describe the four major schedules of partial
reinforcement.
Discuss the effects of punishment on behavior.
Describe the typical patterns of response under fixed-interval, fixed-ratio, variableinterval and variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement.
Describe some drawbacks to the use of physical punishment.
Discuss evidence of the importance of biological processes in operant conditioning.
Describe some major applications of operant conditioning.
Provide a brief definition of the following KEY TERMS:
Associative learning
Operant conditioning
Respondent behavior
Operant behavior
Law of effect
Operant chamber (Skinner box)
Learning
Shaping
Reinforcer
Primary reinforcers
Continuous reinforcement
Partial (intermittent) reinforcers
Fixed-ratio schedule
Variable-ratio schedule
Fixed-interval schedule
Variable-interval schedule
Punishment
Cognitive map
Latent learning
Intrinsic motivation
Extrinsic motivation
Negative reinforcement
LEARNING BY OBSERVATION
Describe the process of observational learning.
Discuss the impact of viewing televised aggression on children.
Provide a brief definition of the following KEY TERMS:
Observational learning
Modeling
Mirror neurons
Prosocial behavior