Learning Objectives

Chapter 8

1. Define learning and discuss the four important concepts in the definition.
2. Describe classical conditioning and define the key terms and procedures associated with classical conditioning.
3. Explain how classical conditioning is used to elicit behavioral and emotional responses in humans.
4. Discuss higher order conditioning and list two factors that determine the extent of conditioning.
5. Explain the importance of strength, timing, frequency, and predictability in classical conditioning.
6. Describe how classically conditioned responses undergo extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization and discrimination.
7. Discuss how the process of classical conditioning has been applied to daily human life.
8. Define operant conditioning and discuss two American psychologists who contributed greatly to our understanding of this type of learning.
9. Define reinforcement, compare and contrast positive and negative reinforcement, and differentiate between primary and secondary reinforcers.
10. Explain the importance of shaping to operant conditioning and discuss how a Skinner box can be used to shape behavior.
11. Define and differentiate between positive and negative punishment and explain the effect of punishment on behavior.
12. Discuss how to use punishment effectively, and list the limitations of punishment.
13. Explain how strength, timing, and frequency of consequences affect operant conditioning and state how schedules of reinforcement can be used in practical ways.
14. Describe how operantly conditioned responses undergo extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization and discrimination.
15. Discuss the application of operant conditioning to real life by discussing the concepts of superstition, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and behavioral self-regulation.
16. Define social learning theory and discuss the impact of modeling on human behavior.
17. Explain the key processes involved in observational learning.
18. Explain the process of consolidation.
19. Distinguish between insight, latent learning, and cognitive maps and describe how these concepts are related to learning.
20. Describe evolutionary theories and how they conceptualize learning.
21. State which parts and processes of the brain have been associated with learning, and discuss what changes occur as the result of learning.