18.5 Chapter 5: Learning

show what you know

1. behavior or thinking; experiences
2. c. associations

1. c. the stethoscope
2. biological preparedness
3. a. salmonella
4. When Little Albert heard the loud bang, it was an unconditioned stimulus (US) that elicited fear, the unconditioned response (UR). Through conditioning, the sight of the rat became paired with the loud noise, and thus the rat went from being a neutral stimulus to a conditioned stimulus (CS). Little Albert’s fear of the rat became a conditioned response (CR).

1. law of effect
2. d. stimulus generalization.
3. a. positive punishment
4. Answers will vary, but can be based on the following definitions. Reinforcers are consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring. Positive reinforcement is the process by which pleasant reinforcers are presented following a target behavior. Negative reinforcement occurs with the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a target behavior. Successive approximation is a method for shaping that uses reinforcers to condition a series of small steps that gradually approach the target behavior.

1. a. observational learning.
2. Answers will vary, but can be based on the following definitions. A model is an individual or character whose behavior is being imitated. Observational learning occurs as a result of watching the behavior of others.
3. c. latent learning.

1. b. habituation
2. c. ability to press a pendulum to get food.
3. a. involuntary; voluntary
4. b. conditioned response.
5. b. conditioned stimulus.
6. a. adaptive value
7. c. conditioned emotional response.
8. d. The law of effect
9. c. A dog whining in the morning, leading an owner to wake up and take it outside
10. a. positive reinforcement.
11. b. positive reinforcement.
12. a. were more likely to imitate the adult’s aggressive behavior.
13. d. at increased risk of abusing their spouses when they become adults.
14. a. latent learning.
15. b. insight.
16. Differences: In classical conditioning the learned behaviors are involuntary, whereas in operant conditioning, the learned behaviors are voluntary. Classical conditioning links different stimuli, and operant conditioning links behaviors to their consequences. Shared characteristics: They both involve forming associations. They both have an acquisition phase, and in both cases extinction of the learned behavior can occur. (See TABLE 5.2 and Figure 5.4.)
17. Biological preparedness is a biological predisposition or inclination of animals to form associations quickly through classical conditioning. If an animal eats something and then gets sick, it is unlikely to eat that food again, which could influence the survival of the animal.
18. Answers will vary, but can be based on the following definitions. Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that satisfy biological needs, such as food, water, or physical contact. Secondary reinforcers do not satisfy biological needs, but often gain their power through their association with primary reinforcers. A primary reinforcer used to change behavior might be food. A college tries to increase student participation by providing food at important school functions. Money can be used as a secondary reinforcer. Employees are paid money, which increases attendance at work.
19. Answers will vary, but can be based on the following definitions. Punishment decreases the likelihood of the behavior it follows. On the other hand, negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior recurring. See TABLE 5.3 for examples.
20. Answers can vary. The studies that have found an association between violent films and violent behaviors are correlational: They can only highlight a link between the films and the behaviors, not a cause-and-effect relationship. There are other factors that have to be considered. For example, parenting could influence both television viewing and aggression. A parent who is emotionally neglectful may place a child in front of a television all day, such that the child is more likely to imitate some aggressive behaviors seen on the TV. Simultaneously, the child may resent her parent for ignoring her, and the resentment could lead to aggressive behavior. In this example, is it the television programming or the parenting that is leading to aggression?

try this

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ANSWER: Independent variable: exposure to an adult displaying aggressive or nonaggressive behavior. Dependent variable: child’s level of aggression.

Ideas for altering the study: Conducting the same study with older or younger children; exposing the children to other children (as opposed to adults) behaving aggressively; pairing children with adults of the same and different ethnicities to determine the impact of ethnic background.