Learning Theory & Conditioning Flashcards
7 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Learning Theory & Conditioning flashcards as text
In operant conditioning, 'ratio strain' occurs when:
Answer: The ratio of reinforcement to behavior is too low, causing behavioral deterioration
Ratio strain happens when the reinforcement schedule is thinned too quickly, leading to frustration, disengagement, or behavior collapse.
Which describes 'behavior chaining' in dog training?
Answer: Linking a series of individually trained behaviors into a sequence
Behavior chaining connects a series of discrete behaviors so each behavior cues the next, with reinforcement at the end.
Classical conditioning is best described as learning through:
Answer: Association between stimuli
Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning involves learning that a neutral stimulus predicts a biologically significant event.
When a dog trained to sit for kibble suddenly sits reliably for only a pat on the head, the kibble has most likely been successfully:
Answer: Faded as the primary reinforcer
Fading reduces the salience or frequency of a training aid (like food) until the behavior is maintained by other reinforcers.
A dog that was shocked by an electric fence stops approaching the fence even years later. This long-lasting suppression is best explained by:
Answer: One-trial learning and strong aversive conditioning
Intense aversive events can produce one-trial learning, where a single pairing creates a durable conditioned avoidance.
The 'matching law' in behavioral psychology predicts that an organism will allocate its behavior proportionally to:
Answer: The relative rate of reinforcement available for each response
The matching law states that the proportion of responses matches the proportion of reinforcement obtained from each option.
Systematic desensitization differs from flooding primarily because it:
Answer: Exposes the animal to stimuli at low intensity while maintaining relaxation, gradually increasing intensity
Systematic desensitization pairs gradual, sub-threshold stimulus exposure with relaxation or positive emotions, unlike flooding's immediate full exposure.