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CH 03 - Vocab
Definitions
72
Psychology
Graduate
09/28/2015

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Term
Phylogenetic
Definition
Behavior relations that are based on the genetic endowment of an organism, and that are present on the basis of species history.
Term
unlearned
Definition
Behavior that aids survival or procreation is often (but now always) _____. This is because past generations of organisms that engaged in such behavior survived and reproduced. These animals passed on to the next generation the characteristics (via genes) that allowed similar behavior.
Term
environmental conditions
Definition
Species history provides the organism with a basic repertoire of responses that are evoked by _____.
Term
Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)
Definition
A sequence or chain of behavior set off by a specific stimulus. The component responses are repeated almost identically with each presentation of the stimulus.
Term
"genetic blueprint"
Definition
Fixed action patterns are based on a _____, and the environment simply initiates the sequence.
For example, the male stickleback fish will aggressively defend its territory from male intruders during the mating season. The fish shows a fixed action sequence of threatening actions that are elicited by the red underbelly of an intruding male.
Term
Modal Action Patterns (MAPs)
Definition
The behavioral flexibility of seemingly fixed action patterns. The major topographic features of these reflex combinations may appear similar across individuals and situations, but there are numerous idiosyncratic differences.
Term
modification
Definition
All robins build nests that appear very similar in construction. However, it is clear they do not all build in the same location, or use the same materials. There is great individual variation in all phases of nest construction, suggesting _____ by the environment (ontogeny).
Term
Reaction Chain
Definition
Phylogenetic sequences of behavior. An environmental stimulus sets off behavior that produces stimuli that set off the next set of responses in the sequence; these behaviors produce the next set of stimuli, and so on. Presenting stimuli that prompt responses ordinarily occurring in the middle part of the sequence will start the chain at that point rather than at the beginning.
Term
reflexes
Definition
Reaction chains are like consecutive sets of _____ where the stimulus that elicits the next response in the sequence is produced by the previous reflex.
Term
Sexual Selection
Definition
The increased reproductive success of genes that code for attributes or behavior that is attractive (having a stimulus function) to the opposite sex. Individuals with these features and underlying genes have increased chances of copulation and bearing more offspring compared with those who lack such attractiveness.
Term
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
Definition
All organisms are born with a set of reflexes. These relationships are invariant and biologically based. The eliciting event for the reflex is called the _____.
Term
Unconditioned Response (UR)
Definition
All organisms are born with a set of reflexes. These relationships are invariant and biologically based. The behavior elicited by the unconditioned stimulus (US) is called the _____.
Term
Reflex
Definition
When an unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response (US->UR), the relationship is called a _____.
Term
Elicited
Definition
Respondent (CR) and reflexive (UR) behavior is _____ in the sense that the behavior is made to occur by the presentation of a stimulus (CS or US).
Term
Primary Laws of the Reflex
Definition
These include:
- The law of the threshold
- The law of intensity-magnitude
- The law of latency
These laws govern the US->UR relationship
Term
Law of the threshold
Definition
At very weak intensities a stimulus will not elicit a response, but as the intensity of the eliciting stimulus increases there is a point at which the response is evoked. That is, there is a point below which no response is elicited and above which a response always occurs.
Term
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
Definition
All organisms are born with a set of reflexes. These relationships are invariant and biologically based. The eliciting event for the reflex is called the _____.
Term
Unconditioned Response (UR)
Definition
All organisms are born with a set of reflexes. These relationships are invariant and biologically based. The behavior elicited by the unconditioned stimulus (US) is called the _____.
Term
Reflex
Definition
When an unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response (US->UR), the relationship is called a _____.
Term
Elicited
Definition
Respondent (CR) and reflexive (UR) behavior is _____ in the sense that the behavior is made to occur by the presentation of a stimulus (CS or US).
Term
Primary Laws of the Reflex
Definition
These include:
- The law of the threshold
- The law of intensity-magnitude
- The law of latency
These laws govern the US->UR relationship
Term
Law of the threshold
Definition
At very weak intensities a stimulus will not elicit a response, but as the intensity of the eliciting stimulus increases there is a point at which the response is evoked. That is, there is a point below which no response is elicited and above which a response always occurs.
Term
Law of Intensity-Magnitude
Definition
As the intensity of an unconditioned stimulus (US) increases, so does the magnitude or size of the unconditioned response (UR)
Term
Law of Latency
Definition
As the intensity of the unconditioned stimulus (US) increase, the latency (time to onset) of the unconditioned response (UR) decreases.
Term
Habituation
Definition
Occurs when an unconditioned stimulus (US) repeatedly elicits an unconditioned response (UR). The frequent presentation of the US produced a gradual decline in the magnitude of the unconditioned response. When the UR is repeatedly elicited it may eventually fail to occur at all.
Term
ontogenetic
Definition
Each organism has a unique life history that contributes to its behavior. These changes in behavior are caused by events that occur over the lifetime of an individual. This history builds on species history (phylogeny) to determine when, where, and what kind of behavior will occur at a given moment.
Term
conditioned response (CR)
Definition
An arbitrary stimulus, such as a tone, is associated with an unconditioned stimulus that elicits reflexive behavior (e.g., food elicits salivation). After several pairings, the stimulus is presented alone. If the stimulus now elicits a response (tone evokes salivation), the response to the tone is called a _____.
Term
conditioned stimulus (CS)
Definition
An arbitrary stimulus, such as a tone, is associated with an unconditioned stimulus that elicits reflexive behavior (e.g., food elicits salivation). After several pairings, the stimulus is presented alone. If the stimulus now elicits a response (tone elicits salivation), it is called a _____.
Term
respondent
Definition
This refers to behavior that increase or decreases by the presentation of a conditioned stimulus (CS) that precedes the conditioned response (CR).
We say that the presentation of the CS regulates or controls the respondent (CR).
This type of behavior is elicited, in the sense that it reliably occurs when the CS is presented. The notation system used with elicited behavior is CS -> CR. The CS causes (arrow) the CR.
Term
respondent conditioning
Definition
This occurs when an organism responds to a new event based on a history of pairing with a biologically important stimulus.
Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov discovered this form of conditioning at the turn of the century.
Term
conditioned taste aversion (CTA)
Definition
A sweet-flavored liquid may function as a conditioned stimulus (CS) in taste-aversion conditioning, and drug-induced sickness (e.g., using lithium chloride) may serve as the unconditioned stimulus (US). After repeated pairings of the flavor or taste with the drug, the animal shows avoidance of the sweet-flavored solution.
Term
conditioned place preference (CPP)
Definition
A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus (CS) is a particular place or location and the sweet-flavored solution is the unconditioned stimulus (US). The solution is given in one distinct chamber (stripes) but not in another (white), and the animal shows a preference by a choice test for the location paired with the solution.
Term
contiguity
Definition
When stimuli or events occur near in time they become similar in function. To be most effective, the conditioning procedures should arrange that the neutral stimulus PREDICTS (comes just before) the unconditioned stimulus.
Term
respondent acquisition
Definition
the procedure of pairing the conditioned stimulus (CS) with the unconditioned stimulus (US) over trials when the respondent level for the CS is near zero.
It also refers to the increase in magnitude of the conditioned response (CR) when the respondent level for the CS is near zero.
Term
Respondent Extinction
Definition
Involves the presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus after acquisition has occurred.
As a behavioral process, it refers to a decline in the strength of the conditioned response when an EXT procedure is in effect.
Term
Respondent Level
Definition
The baseline level (magnitude) of the conditioned response (CR) to the conditioned stimulus (CS) before any known conditioning has taken place.
For example, the amount of salivation (CR) to a tone (CS) before the tone has been paired with food in the mouth is usually zero (no salivation)
Term
Spontaneous Recovery
Definition
An increase in the magnitude of the conditioned response (CR) after respondent extinction has occurred and time has passed.
Term
Behavioral Analysis of Spontaneous Revovery
Definition
A _____ suggests that the relationship between the conditioned stimulus (CS) and CR is weakened by extinction, but the context or features of the situation elicit some level of the conditioned responses. During respondent conditioning, many stimuli not specified by the researcher as the CS, but present in the experimental situation, come to regulate behavior.
Term
contextual stimuli
Definition
Uncontrolled sights, sounds, smells, etc. that are the background for conditioning. These stimuli are conditioned at the same time that behavior is strengthened.
Term
Respondent Generalization
Definition
This occurs when an organism shows a conditioned response to values of the conditioned stimulus that have not been trained.
For example, if a tone of 375 Hz is followed by food, a dog will salivate at maximum level when this tone is presented. However, the animal may salivate to other values of the tone. As the tone differs more and more from 375 Hz, the conditioned response decreases in magnitude
Term
Generalization Gradient
Definition
Generalization occurs when an organism shows a conditioned response (CR) to values of the conditioned stimulus (CS) that were not trained during acquisition. A ____ is the function (graph) that relates values of the CS (loudness of tone) to a measure of response strength (amount of CR).
Term
Respondent discrimination
Definition
This occurs when an organism shows a conditioned response to one stimulus but not to other similar events.
Term
CS-pre-exposure effect
Definition
An alternative term for latent inhibition.
Term
Latent inhibition
Definition
A term used to denote that an animal's learning of the CS-US relation is reduced or inhibited by pre-exposure of the CS, revealed by an acquisition test following the conditioning phase.
Term
US-pre-exposure effect
Definition
A procedure in which animals are first given repeated exposures to the unconditioned stimulus (US) by itself and then a series of CS-> US pairings (conditioning).
Compared with animals given pairings with a novel US, those familiar with the US (pre-exposed) show weaker and slower conditioning on the acquisition test.
Term
discrimination procedure
Definition
A _____ involves positive and negative conditioning trials. For example, a positive trial occurs when a CS+ such as a 60-dB tone is followed by an unconditioned stimulus such as food. On negative trials, a 40-dB tone is presented (CS-) but not followed by food. Once a differential response occurs (salivation to 60dB but not to 40dB), we may say that the organisms discriminates between the tones.
Term
Delayed Conditioning
Definition
The conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented a few seconds before the unconditioned stimulus (US) occurs.
Term
Simultaneous Conditioning
Definition
The conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) are presented at the same moment.
Term
Trace Conditioning
Definition
The conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented for a brief period and after some time has elapsed the unconditioned stimulus (US) occurs.
Term
Backward Conditioning
Definition
The unconditioned stimulus (US) comes on before the conditioned stimulus (CS).
The general consensus has been that it is unreliable and many researchers question whether it occurs at all.
Term
biological significance
Definition
There is evidence that backward chaining can occur when the CS has _____ (e.g., the sight of a predator).
Term
weaker
Definition
Compared with delayed conditioning, simultaneous conditioning produces a _____ conditioned response (CR)
Term
increases
Definition
Generally, as the time between the CS presentation and the occurrence of the US _____, the conditioned response (CR) becomes weaker.
Term
first-order conditioning
Definition
An apparently neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US). When this occurs, the control of the response to the US is transferred to the neutral stimulus, which is now called a conditioned stimulus (CS).
Term
second-order conditioning
Definition
Involves pairing two conditioned stimuli (CS1+CS2), rather than a conditioned and unconditioned stimulus (US+CS).
Term
homeostasis
Definition
Walter cannon coined the term in 1926 to describe the tendency of a system to remain stable and to resist change.
In biological systems, it refers to the regulation of the system by negative feedback loops.
Involves self-regulation to maintain an internal evnironment in a stable or constant condition by means of multiple dynamic equilibrium adjustments
Term
Pavlov
Definition
Conducted several experiments on second-order conditioning with metronome tick, black square and food presentation.
Term
Phobic Reactions
Definition
_____ and other emotional responses may sometimes involve higher-order respondent conditioning.
Term
Tolerance
Definition
When more of a drug (US) is needed to obtain the same drug effects (UR).
In respondent conditioning, the counteractive effects to conditioned stimuli are major components in this.
Term
conditioned withdrawal
Definition
When a conditioned stimulus (CS) that accompanies drug use is presented, people are said to have "cravings" and this respondent process is called _____.
Term
placebo effect
Definition
The effect of an inert substance on the "physiological wellbeing" of a patient.
Term
compound stimuli
Definition
In respondent conditioning, two or more conditioned stimuli are presented together and acquire the capacity to evoke a single conditioned response.
Term
overshadowing
Definition
This effect occurs when a compound stimulus is used as the conditioned stimulus in a respondent conditioning experiment.
The most salient property of the compound stimulus comes to regulate exclusively the conditioned response.
Term
blocking
Definition
A CS that has been associated with a US blocks a subsequent CS-US association.
A CS1 is paired with a US until the conditioned response reaches maximum strength. Following this conditioning, a second stimulus or CS2 is presented at the same time as the original CS1, and both are paired with the US. On test trials, the original CS1 elicits the CR but the second stimulus or CS2 does not.
Term
conditioned suppression
Definition
A previously conditioned stimulus is paired with an aversive US such as an electric shock.
After several pairings, the original CS becomes a conditioned aversive stimulus and its onset suppresses ongoing operant behavior.
Term
Rescorla-Wagner Model
Definition
A conditioned stimulus acquired a limited amount of associative strength on any one trial.
Term
associative strength
Definition
During respondent conditioning, the term is used to describe the relation between the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the magnitude of the conditioned response (CR).
Term
maximum associative strength
Definition
The CS can acquire only so much control over a conditioned response CR.
The US elicits a given magnitude over the UR and this magnitude sets the upper limit for the CR.
The CS cannot elicit a greater response than the one produced by the US.
Term
change in associative strength
Definition
A factor that affects the increment in associative strength on any one trial; the change in associative strength is the difference between the present strength of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and its maximum possible value.
Term
salience
Definition
The symbol S in the R-W equation is a constant that varies between 0 and 1, and may be interpreted as the _____.
The constant is estimated after conditioning and determines how quickly the associative strength of the CS rises to its maximum.
Term
increses
Definition
In general, associative strength _____ over conditioning trials and reaches some maximum level.
Term
larger
Definition
A _____ salience coefficient makes the associative strength of the CS rise more quickly to its maximum.
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