Learning & Cognition

Cognition

100

Thinking involves mentally grouping similar objects, events, and ideas into these

What are concepts?

200

These are objects or acts that stand for something else and enable us to think about things that are not present

What are symbols?

300

An example of a concept that best exemplifies the characteristics of that concept

What is a prototype?

400

This is being aware of what you know and don't know, understanding what you will need to know for a certain task and having an idea of how to use your current skills to learn what you don't know.

What is metacognition

500

This is the process of finding a single best solution to a problem you need to solve; an example of where this is used includes multiple choice tests.

What is convergent thinking?

Memory

100

This is the second process of memory; it makes memories available for future use.

What is storage?

200

A memory, often vivid, of a specific event.

What is episodic memory?

300

Memory best retrieved when a person is on the same mood as the memories were when stored

What is State-Dependent Memory?

400

This includes practiced skills and learned habits

What is implicit memory?

500

First process in memory, the translation of memory for future use

What is encoding?

Learning

100

A reinforcement procedure/experience in which a behavior is followed by the presentation/addition of, or an increase in intensity of, a stimulus.

What is positive reinforcement?

200

This is defined as learning to make an involuntary (reflex) response to a stimulus other than the original, natural stimulus that normally produces the reflex

What is classical conditioning?

300

A reinforcement procedure/experience in which a behavior is followed by the removal of, or a decrease in the intensity of, a stimulus.

What is negative reinforcement?

400

In this type of reinforcement the response is reinforced only part of the time. Learned behaviors are acquired more slowly with this reinforcement, but the response is more resistant to extinction.

What is partial reinforcement.

500

Any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars

What is a secondary reinforcer? Note: a primary reinforcer is any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch

Classical Conditioning

100

Every time someone flushes a toilet in the apartment building, the shower becomes very hot and causes the person to jump back. Over time, the person begins to jump back automatically after hearing the flush, before the water temperature changes.

This example is classical conditioning because jumping away from hot water is an automatic response. • The hot water is the US • The jumping back is the UR • The toilet flush is the CS • The jumping back to the flush alone is the CR

200

You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food and feel nauseated whenever you smell it.

This example is classical conditioning because nausea is an automatic response. • The flu sickness is the US. • The nausea is the UR. • The new food is the CS. • The nausea to the new food is the CR.

300

An individual receives frequent injections of drugs, which are administered in a small examination room at a clinic. The drug itself causes increased heart rate but after several trips to the clinic, simply being in a small room causes an increased heart rate.

This example is classical conditioning because the increased heart rate is an automatic response. • The drug is the US. • The accelerated heart rate is the UR. • The small room is the CS. • The accelerated heart rate to the room is the CR.

400

John Watson conducted an experiment with a boy named Albert in which he paired a white rat with a loud, startling noise. Albert now becomes startled at the sight of the white rat.

This is an example of classical conditioning because a startle response is an automatic behavior. • The loud noise is the US. • The startle is the UR. • The white rat is the CS. • The startle response to the white rat is the CR.

500

Ivan Pavlov's experiment consisted of feeding dogs and ringing a bell at the same time. The dog would naturally salivate when they saw the food--after a while the dogs would drool upon hearing the sound of the bell--the dogs had associated the sound of the bell with feeding time.

UCS-Food UCR-Salivation UCS-Bell + Food UCR-Salivation CS-Bell CR-Salivation

Operant Conditioning

100

Your hands are cold so you put your gloves on. In the future, you are more likely to put gloves on when it’s cold.

This is an example of operant conditioning because putting gloves on is a voluntary behavior. • The consequence is a negative reinforcement because the coldness is taken away and the behavior of putting on gloves increases.

200

You check the coin return slot on a pay telephone and find a quarter. You find yourself checking other telephones over the next few days.

This is an example of operant conditioning because checking the coin return slot is a voluntary behavior. • The quarter would be a positive reinforcement because it was given and led to an increase in the behavior.

300

A professor has a policy of exempting students from the final exam if they maintain perfect attendance during the quarter. His students’ attendance increases dramatically.

This example is operant conditioning because attendance is a voluntary behavior. • The exemption from the final exam is a negative reinforcement because something is taken away that increases the behavior (attendance).

400

Your car has a red, flashing light that blinks annoyingly if you start the car without buckling the seat belt. You become less likely to start the car without buckling the seat belt.

This example is operant conditioning because buckling a seat belt is voluntary. • The flashing light is a positive punishment. • The consequence is given . • The behavior of not buckling the seat belt decreases.

500

Your father gives you a credit card at the end of your first year in college because you did so well. As a result, your grades continue to get better in your second year.

This example is operant conditioning because school performance is a voluntary behavior. • The credit card is a positive reinforcement because it is given and it increases the behavior.