Psychology Test #2 with Complete Solutions

Learning - ANSWER A relatively permanent change in behavior or mental processes as a result of practice or experience Classical conditioning - ANSWER Learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to elicit a conditioned response (CR) Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) - ANSWER Stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response (UCR) without previous conditioning Unconditioned response (UCR) - ANSWER Unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that occurs without previous conditioning Neutral stimulus (NS) - ANSWER A stimulus that, before conditioning, does not naturally bring about the response of interest Conditioning - ANSWER The process of learning associations between environmental stimuli and behavioral responses Conditioned stimulus (CS) - ANSWER Previously neutral stimulus that, through repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), now causes a conditioned response (CR) Conditioned response (CR) - ANSWER Learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus (CS) that occurs because of previous repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) Conditioned emotional response (CER) - ANSWER A classically conditioned emotional response to a previously neutral stimulus (NS) Stimulus generalization - ANSWER Learned response not only to the original stimulus but also to other similar stimuli Extinction - ANSWER Gradual weakening or suppression of a previously conditioned response (CR) Operant conditioning - ANSWER Learning in which voluntary responses are controlled by their consequences Skinner box - ANSWER A box containing lights, levers, food dispensers, and electrical wiring to produce shocks; used to operantly condition rats Reinforcement - ANSWER Strengthens a response and makes it more likely to recur Punishment - ANSWER Weakens a response and makes it less likely to recur Positive Reinforcement - ANSWER Adding a stimulus, which strengthens a response and makes it more likely to recur (your behavior causes something pleasant to happen) Negative Reinforcement - ANSWER Taking away a stimulus, which strengthens a response and makes it more likely to recur (your behavior causes something unpleasant to stop happening) Positive Punishment - ANSWER Adding a stimulus that weakens a response and makes it less likely to recur (your behavior causes something unpleasant to happen) Negative Punishment - ANSWER Taking away a stimulus that weakens a response and makes it less likely to recur (your behavior causes something pleasant to stop happening) Shaping - ANSWER Reinforcement delivered for successive approximations of the desired response; basically, reinforcement that occurs in baby steps Observational learning - ANSWER Learning new behavior or information by watching others; how humans do the majority of their learning Levels of processing - ANSWER The degree or depth of mental processing that occurs when material is initially encountered determines how well it is later remembered Elaborative rehearsal - ANSWER Linking new information to previously stored material Memory - ANSWER An internal record or representation of some prior event or experience Decay theory - ANSWER Memory, like all biological processes, decays over time Motivation - ANSWER Set of factors that activate, direct, and maintain behavior, usually toward a goal Emotion - ANSWER A subjective feeling that includes arousal (heart pounding), cognitions (thoughts, values, and expectations), and expressions (frowns, smiles, and running) Intelligence - ANSWER The global capacity to think rationally, act purposefully, and deal effectively with the environment Creativity - ANSWER The ability to produce valued outcomes in a novel