What This Document Is
This is Professor Heyman’s study guide for the second exam in Introduction to Psychology as a Natural Science (PS 110) at Boston College, Fall 2013. It focuses on the topic of learning, covering classical and operant conditioning, the biological changes associated with learning, and the application of these principles to understanding human behavior – particularly phobias.
Why This Document Matters
This study guide is designed for students enrolled in PS 110 preparing for their second exam. It serves as a focused review of key concepts and research discussed in lectures and readings. It’s most useful when used *in conjunction with* course notes, assigned textbook chapters, and other learning materials. The guide highlights areas the professor emphasizes as important for exam success.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This study guide is a *preview* of the material covered on the exam. It does not replace the need to attend lectures, complete readings, or engage with the course material independently. It’s a roadmap, not a substitute for learning. It also reflects the specific content and emphasis of a course taught in Fall 2013, and may not perfectly align with current course iterations.
What This Document Provides
The full study guide includes:
* An overview of the definition of learning, distinguishing between acquisition and enduring change.
* A breakdown of classical conditioning, including the roles of the unconditioned stimulus (US), conditioned stimulus (CS), and associated principles like magnitude, timing, and species susceptibility.
* Discussion of operant/reward-based learning and its connection to everyday behaviors like impulsivity and procrastination.
* An exploration of the neurological changes that occur during learning – changes in gray matter, white matter, receptor numbers, and synaptic strength (long-term potentiation).
* A detailed case study of “Little Albert” and its implications for understanding phobias.
* Characteristics and demographics related to phobias (social, agoraphobia, specific phobias).
* Definitions of the unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response.
This preview does *not* include detailed explanations of long-term potentiation, specific experimental results, or practice exam questions. It does not contain the full text of the Anna case study.