NVCC PSY 200-E43L Exam 2 Latest Updated 2026
What is the law of effect and which researchers are associated with it? - ANSWER-behaviors that are
followed by a "satisfying state of affairs" tend to be repeated and those that produce an "unpleasant
state of affairs" are less likely to be repeated. Thorndike developed this
What is operant behavior? - ANSWER-refers to behavior that an organism produces that has some
impact on the environment
What is a reinforcer? - ANSWER-any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the
behavior that led to it
What is a punisher? - ANSWER-any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of the
behavior that led to it
What is positive reinforcement? - ANSWER-where a reward stimulus is added
What is negative reinforcement? - ANSWER-where an unpleasant reinforcement is removed
What is negative punishment? - ANSWER-where a reward stimulus is removed
what is positive punishment? - ANSWER-when an unpleasant stimulus is added
How does discrimination occur in operant conditioning? - ANSWER-refers to responding only to the
discriminative stimulus and not to similar stimuli. people were only reinforced if they responded when
the appropriate thing was presented.
How does extinction occur in operant conditioning? - ANSWER-when stimuli elicit similar responses to
previously conditioned stimuli that share certain qualities
,What is a fixed interval? - ANSWER-an interval schedule where reinforcers are presented at fixed time
periods, provided that the appropriate response is made.
What is a variable interval? - ANSWER-an interval schedule where a behavior is reinforced based on an
average time that has expired since the last reinforcement
What is a fixed ratio? - ANSWER-a ratio schedule where reinforcement is delivered after a specific
number of responses
What is a variable ratio? - ANSWER-a ratio schedule that shows that the delivery of reinforcement is
based on a particular average number of responses
What is continuous reinforcement? - ANSWER-when a reinforcer is given after every single response
What is intermittent reinforcement? - ANSWER-where a reinforcer is only given after some of the
responses
Gambling operates under which type of reinforcement schedule? - ANSWER-intermittent reinforcement
What schedule of reinforcement leads to highest rate of response? - ANSWER-variable ratio schedule
What is shaping and how can it be use to teach new behavior? - ANSWER-is learning that results from
the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behavior. at each step when the proper thing is
done there is a reinforcer so then that will make the person want to do the step
What is latent learning? - ANSWER-something is learned but it is not manifested as a behavioral change
until sometime in the future
What is a cognitive map? - ANSWER-a mental representation of the physical features of the environment
What are the Tolman and Honzik studies and how did they challenge the notion that there was not a
cognitive component to learning? - ANSWER-shows that rats actively process information rather than
, operating on a stimulus response relationship. The rats reached their goals without any reinforcement
showing evidence of latent learning
What are the brains pleasure centers? - ANSWER-The nucleus accumbens, medial forebrain bundle and
hypothalamus
How did the Breland's find that operant conditioning is constrained by evolution? - ANSWER-their work
showed that all species including humans are biologically predisposed to learn some things easier than
others, and respond to stimuli in ways that are consistent with their evolutionary histories through the
studies of pigs and raccoons and how they would dig coins into the dirt like food instead of putting them
in a box
What is observational learning? - ANSWER-when you learn stuff from watching others actions
What are the Bandura's bobo doll studies? how does seeing the model be punishes or rewarded
influence the amount of modeling that occurs? - ANSWER-Children observed an adult aggressively play
with the bobo doll, and after observing this they were twice as likely tp play with the doll aggressively as
well. When the kids saw that the model was being punished they decreased aggressiveness and when
they saw them being rewarded they increased in aggressiveness
What are mirror neurons? - ANSWER-a type of cell found in the frontal and parietal lobes of primates.
They fire when an animal does something or sees someone else do something which they use and
contribute to observational learning
What is implicit learning? example? - ANSWER-learning that takes place largely independent of
awareness of both the process and the products of information acquisition. an example is like how back
then no one knew hoe to type using thumbs but about all teenagers do it automatically
What is habituation? - ANSWER-a type of implicit learning in which repeated exposure to a stimulus
results in a reduced response for example you were probably scared when you heard car horns when
you were on the highway at first but now you are not startled at all
what are the best techniques for studying? - ANSWER-practice testing, distributed practice
What is the law of effect and which researchers are associated with it? - ANSWER-behaviors that are
followed by a "satisfying state of affairs" tend to be repeated and those that produce an "unpleasant
state of affairs" are less likely to be repeated. Thorndike developed this
What is operant behavior? - ANSWER-refers to behavior that an organism produces that has some
impact on the environment
What is a reinforcer? - ANSWER-any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the
behavior that led to it
What is a punisher? - ANSWER-any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of the
behavior that led to it
What is positive reinforcement? - ANSWER-where a reward stimulus is added
What is negative reinforcement? - ANSWER-where an unpleasant reinforcement is removed
What is negative punishment? - ANSWER-where a reward stimulus is removed
what is positive punishment? - ANSWER-when an unpleasant stimulus is added
How does discrimination occur in operant conditioning? - ANSWER-refers to responding only to the
discriminative stimulus and not to similar stimuli. people were only reinforced if they responded when
the appropriate thing was presented.
How does extinction occur in operant conditioning? - ANSWER-when stimuli elicit similar responses to
previously conditioned stimuli that share certain qualities
,What is a fixed interval? - ANSWER-an interval schedule where reinforcers are presented at fixed time
periods, provided that the appropriate response is made.
What is a variable interval? - ANSWER-an interval schedule where a behavior is reinforced based on an
average time that has expired since the last reinforcement
What is a fixed ratio? - ANSWER-a ratio schedule where reinforcement is delivered after a specific
number of responses
What is a variable ratio? - ANSWER-a ratio schedule that shows that the delivery of reinforcement is
based on a particular average number of responses
What is continuous reinforcement? - ANSWER-when a reinforcer is given after every single response
What is intermittent reinforcement? - ANSWER-where a reinforcer is only given after some of the
responses
Gambling operates under which type of reinforcement schedule? - ANSWER-intermittent reinforcement
What schedule of reinforcement leads to highest rate of response? - ANSWER-variable ratio schedule
What is shaping and how can it be use to teach new behavior? - ANSWER-is learning that results from
the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behavior. at each step when the proper thing is
done there is a reinforcer so then that will make the person want to do the step
What is latent learning? - ANSWER-something is learned but it is not manifested as a behavioral change
until sometime in the future
What is a cognitive map? - ANSWER-a mental representation of the physical features of the environment
What are the Tolman and Honzik studies and how did they challenge the notion that there was not a
cognitive component to learning? - ANSWER-shows that rats actively process information rather than
, operating on a stimulus response relationship. The rats reached their goals without any reinforcement
showing evidence of latent learning
What are the brains pleasure centers? - ANSWER-The nucleus accumbens, medial forebrain bundle and
hypothalamus
How did the Breland's find that operant conditioning is constrained by evolution? - ANSWER-their work
showed that all species including humans are biologically predisposed to learn some things easier than
others, and respond to stimuli in ways that are consistent with their evolutionary histories through the
studies of pigs and raccoons and how they would dig coins into the dirt like food instead of putting them
in a box
What is observational learning? - ANSWER-when you learn stuff from watching others actions
What are the Bandura's bobo doll studies? how does seeing the model be punishes or rewarded
influence the amount of modeling that occurs? - ANSWER-Children observed an adult aggressively play
with the bobo doll, and after observing this they were twice as likely tp play with the doll aggressively as
well. When the kids saw that the model was being punished they decreased aggressiveness and when
they saw them being rewarded they increased in aggressiveness
What are mirror neurons? - ANSWER-a type of cell found in the frontal and parietal lobes of primates.
They fire when an animal does something or sees someone else do something which they use and
contribute to observational learning
What is implicit learning? example? - ANSWER-learning that takes place largely independent of
awareness of both the process and the products of information acquisition. an example is like how back
then no one knew hoe to type using thumbs but about all teenagers do it automatically
What is habituation? - ANSWER-a type of implicit learning in which repeated exposure to a stimulus
results in a reduced response for example you were probably scared when you heard car horns when
you were on the highway at first but now you are not startled at all
what are the best techniques for studying? - ANSWER-practice testing, distributed practice
