07. Learning Flashcards
learning
the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviours
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. the events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequence
stimulus
any event or situation that evokes a response
respondent behaviour
behaviour that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
classical conditioning
learning to associate two stimuli and thus to anticipate events
operant conditioning
learning to associate a response and its consequence
operant behaviours
behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language
behaviourism
the view that psychology 1. should be an objective science that 2. studies behaviour without reference to mental processes
neutral stimuli (NS)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
unconditioned response (UR)
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (salivating) to an unconditioned stimulus (food in the mouth)
unconditioned stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers an unconditioned response
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher
law of effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.
operant chamber
a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer
