Principles of Psychological Learning Quiz

Pavlov's experiments demonstrated how dogs could be conditioned to associate a bell with food, leading to salivation at the sound of the bell alone.

Reinforcement strengthens the connection between a behavior and its consequence, making the behavior more likely to occur in the future.

Social learning theory emphasizes how individuals learn through observing others, imitating behaviors, and modeling.

Chunking involves grouping information into smaller, more manageable units to improve memory and comprehension.

Extinction occurs when a learned behavior gradually diminishes or disappears when the reinforcement stops.

Gardner's theory suggests that intelligence is diverse, encompassing different modalities like linguistic, logical-mathematical, and spatial abilities.

Negative reinforcement strengthens a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus when the behavior occurs.

Fixed-ratio reinforcement provides reinforcement after a set number of responses, leading to a high response rate.

Task analysis involves breaking down a complex behavior or task into smaller steps for easier learning and understanding.

Piaget's formal operational stage marks the ability to think logically, understand abstract concepts, and engage in hypothetical thinking.

Positive reinforcement involves rewarding a behavior with a desired stimulus to increase the likelihood of that behavior recurring.

Bandura's theory suggests that imitation is influenced by the model's characteristics, observed consequences, and the observer's beliefs and attitudes.

Generalization in classical conditioning occurs when a response is triggered by stimuli similar to, but not identical to, the conditioned stimulus.

Skinner's behaviorism focused on how behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment in the environment.

Systematic desensitization is a technique where fear is reduced by gradual exposure to the feared object or situation, paired with relaxation.

Maslow's hierarchy posits that basic physiological needs like food, water, and shelter must be met before higher needs like love, esteem, and self-actualization.

Spontaneous recovery is the sudden reappearance of a previously extinguished response after a period of rest.

Acquisition in classical conditioning refers to the initial phase of learning when a conditioned response is first established.

Bandura's social cognitive theory highlights how individuals learn through observation, their beliefs in their own capabilities (self-efficacy), and the interactions between individuals and their environment (reciprocal determinism).

The spacing effect shows that learning is more effective when study sessions are spaced out over time rather than massed together.

Confirmation bias leads individuals to seek or interpret information in ways that support their existing beliefs or hypotheses.

Learned helplessness describes the resignation and passive behavior individuals show when they believe their actions have no effect on outcomes.