Psych 397 Chapter 13

Front 1

Action at a Distance

Back 1

Any apparent effect for which one cannot readily identify material and efficient causes.

Front 2

Behaviourism

Back 2

A system of psychology founded by John B. Watson and marked by a strong commitment to the methods and values of the natural sciences. Watson saw psychology as a branch of the natural sciences and defined the discipline simply as the scientific study of behaviour.

Front 3

Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev (1857-1927)

Back 3

A contemporary Ivan Pavlov who advanced an objective psychology in which the reflex served as the fundamental category of inquiry. Bekhterev's system was known as reflexology.

Front 4

Conditioned Reflex (CR)

Back 4

In classical conditioning, a learned reflex elicited by a conditioned stimulus. Also known as a conditioned response.

Front 5

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Back 5

In classical conditioning, any stimulus that is psychologically or biologically neutral prior to conditioning trials. Such a stimulus may be paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus. After repeated pairings, the previously neutral conditioned stimulus will elicit a reflex similar to the unconditioned reflex elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.

Front 6

Connectionism

Back 6

A formal term often applied to the theory of learning advanced by Edward Lee Thorndike. Thorndike believed that learning involved the development of connections or bonds between the sense impressions and responses. Connectionism is one of the first S-R theories of learning.

Front 7

Discrimination

Back 7

In classical conditioning, subjects may be conditioned to respond to one stimulus and to ignore or withhold a response to another stimulus. Discrimination is generally established through differential reinforcement.

Front 8

Disinhibition

Back 8

In extinction trials a subject may have stopped responding to a given stimulus. However, a sudden new stimulus may trigger the old conditioned response.

Front 9

Doctrine of Formal Discipline

Back 9

An early belief that the mind, like certain muscle groups, is developed most effectively by specific exercises such as the study of certain classics (eg. Latin and geometry).

Front 10

Equivalent Phase

Back 10

A Pavlovian term referring to the tendency of a subject to respond in a highly stereotyped fashion to any stimulus. The equivalent phase may follow a biological insult that produces a shock-like reaction. In such circumstances, the subject may respond in the same way to all signals.

Front 11

Extinction

Back 11

The weakening or elimination of a conditioned response. The major means of achieving extinction is to present repeatedly the conditioned stimulus in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus.

Front 12

Identical Elements Transfer Theory

Back 12

In contrast with the doctrine of formal discipline, the identical elements transfer theory holds that the learning of any new task will be facilitated most by experience with highly comparable previous tasks.

Front 13

Mary Cover Jones (1896-1987)

Back 13

American psychologist famous for her work on counter-conditioning fear responses in a boy named Peter. Her research in this area established her as a founding figure in behaviour therapy.

Front 14

Konstantin Nikolaevich Kornilov (1879-1957)

Back 14

Founder of a system of psychology in the former Soviet Union known as reactology. Kornilov was seeking a system of psychology completely consistent with Marxist-Leninist political thought. Kornilov's system was rejected by Soviet authorities because it neglected the activity of mind stressed by Lenin.

Front 15

Law of Effect

Back 15

Refers to Thorndike's early view that connections are strengthened when followed by a satisfying state of affairs and weakened when followed by an annoying state of affairs. Later, Thorndike dropped the second half of the law and argued that satisfiers strengthen associations, but annoyers do not weaken associations.

Front 16

Law of Exercise

Back 16

Refers to Thorndike's early belief that connections are strengthened through practice and weakened through disuse. Later, Thorndike denied that exercise alone controls the fate of connections.

Front 17

Paradoxical Phase

Back 17

According to Pavlov, a weak stimulus may sometimes produce a strong response and a strong stimulus may produce a weak response. The paradoxical phase sometimes follows shock induced by a biological insult.

Front 18

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936)

Back 18

The most significant figure in the history of Russian psychology and pioneer in research in classical conditioning. His Lectures on Conditioned Reflexes is a classic work setting forth a psychology and psychiatry based on the principles of conditioning .

Front 19

Psychical Reflex

Back 19

A early term used briefly in Pavlov's laboratory to described conditioned responses.

Front 20

Reactology

Back 20

A system of psychology set forth by Konstantin Kornilov. This system emphasized the importance of physiological and social forces in shaping human and animal behaviour.

Front 21

Reflexology

Back 21

A system of psychology set for by Vladimir Bekhterev, a contemporary Pavlov. According to this system, molar behaviour must be understood in terms of its reflexive origins.

Front 22

Ivan Mikailovich Sechenov (1829-1905)

Back 22

Commonly regarded as the founder of Russian physiology. The author of Reflexes of the Brain, Sechenov argued for an objective psychology wedded to physiology and the principles of monistic materialism.

Front 23

Spontaneous Recovery

Back 23

Following extinction trials, a conditioned stimulus may lose its ability to produce a conditioned response. However, following a period of rest, the conditioned stimulus may once again elicit the conditioned response.

Front 24

Stimulus Generalization

Back 24

Stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus may also elicit a conditioned response.

Front 25

Edward Lee Thorndike (1874-1949)

Back 25

US psychologist who studied with James at Harvard and Cattell at Columbia. Thorndike was a pioneer in the experimental investigation of animal behaviour and advanced one of the earliest and most influential learning theories. His practical work focused on behaviour, and he can be considered a forerunner of behaviourism. Nevertheless, he believed that psychology might be best served by a variety of methods and viewpoints.

Front 26

Truncated Law of Effect

Back 26

Thorndike's later theory that reward strengthens associations. In his later work, Thorndike raised doubts that punishment serves to weaken associations.

Front 27

Ultramaximal Inhibition

Back 27

Sometimes called protective transmarginal inhibition, refers to the effects of a severe biological or psychological insult. Such insults may produce a shock-like state that Pavlov regarded as protective. Massive inhibition, in this case, may serve a protective function by blocking out further stimulation. In shock-like states, subjects may feel no pain and be incapable of intelligent response.

Front 28

Ultraparadoxical Phase

Back 28

Following a severe shock, some subjects display an unusual reversal of values. Thus, a formerly positive or loved stimulus is regarded negatively or hated and a formerly negative or hated stimulus is regarded positively of loved. Such conversions may be relatively permanent.

Front 29

Unconditioned Reflex (UCR)

Back 29

Any naturally occurring reflex to a strong stimulus. Examples include, salivation when hungry in the presence of food, withdrawal from a painful stimulus, or constriction of the pupil with increasing light. Also known as an unconditioned response.

Front 30

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Back 30

A stimulus that is biologically adequate to produce an unconditioned reflex.

Front 31

John Broadus Watson (1878-1958)

Back 31

Founder of American behaviourism and 24th president of the American Psychological Association. Watson's system is remembered for its identity with the natural sciences and extreme emphasis on the environment in shaping behaviour. With a strong belief in determinism and materialism, Watson argued that complete prediction and control of behaviour could be achieved by a truly scientific psychology.