Classical Conditioning
This is a stimulus that initially produces no response until it is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Neutral Stimulus (NS).
This type of reinforcer satisfies basic biological needs, such as food, water, or sleep.
Primary Reinforcer.
This famous experiment conducted by Albert Bandura studied how children imitate aggressive behavior.
The Bobo Doll Experiment.
This Russian physiologist accidentally discovered classical conditioning while studying the digestive systems of dogs.
Ivan Pavlov.
This theory suggests that behavior is a function of its consequences (rewards and punishments).
Operant Conditioning.
This term describes the reappearance of a learned response after it seemed to have been extinguished.
Spontaneous Recovery
This consequence involves removing an unpleasant stimulus (like a loud alarm) to increase the likelihood of a behavior repeating.
Negative Reinforcement
This is the first step of Social Learning Theory, where the learner must focus on the model’s behavior.
Attention
This American psychologist is famous for his work with the "_____ Box" and operant conditioning.
Skinner
This theory involves four specific steps: Attention, Retention, Reproduction, and Motivation.
Social Learning Theory.
If a person starts to feel alert when they smell tea because it reminds them of the smell of coffee, they are demonstrating this phenomenon.
Generalization
Taking away a teenager’s phone because they broke curfew is an example of this specific type of consequence.
Negative Punishment
When an observer sees a model get rewarded for an action and then imitates that action, the observer has experienced this type of reinforcement.
Vicarious Reinforcement
This theorist proposed that learning occurs through observation and modeling, moving beyond simple reward and punishment.
Albert Bandura.
This learning theory focuses on involuntary, automatic physiological responses paired with new stimuli.
Classical Conditioning.
This specific process occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, causing the response to fade.
Extinction
A worker being paid for every 10 units they produce is operating on this specific reinforcement schedule.
Fixed-Ratio (FR) Schedule
This step of the Social Learning process involves the learner’s physical ability to actually perform the behavior they have seen.
Reproduction (The learner must have the physical/mental capacity to imitate the act).
Which theorist worked with pigeons during WWII to see if they could be trained to guide missiles?
B.F. Skinner
Identify the reinforcement schedule: A person checks their email throughout the day because they never know exactly when a new message will arrive.
Variable-Interval (VI) Schedule
Explain the difference between discrimination and generalization in the context of a dog responding to a whistle.
the ability to distinguish between a specific stimulus and similar ones
Why are Variable-Ratio schedules (like slot machines) considered the most effective at maintaining high, steady rates of behavior compared to fixed schedules?
because the reward is unpredictable
According to the Bobo Doll results, what was a key difference in how boys vs. girls imitated physical aggression?
Boys were significantly more likely to imitate physically aggressive acts than girls, while verbal aggression levels were more similar between the genders.
Which theorist would argue that "overt behavior" is the only valid thing to study, rather than internal thoughts or "covert" mental states?
B.F. Skinner
Define Vicarious Extinction and provide an example of how it might look in a classroom setting.
when an observer stops a behavior after seeing a model's behavior no longer get rewarded