5 Learning Flashcards
Learning
The process by which experience or practice results in a relatively permanent change in behavior in the presence of well-defined stimuli
Conditioning
The acquisition of specific patterns of behavior in the presence of well-defined stimuli
Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning
The type of learning in which a response naturally elicited by one stimulus comes to be elicited by a different, formerly neutral stimulus
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
A stimulus that invariably causes an organism to respond in a specific way
Unconditioned response (UR)
A response that takes place in an organism whenever an unconditioned stimulus occurs
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
An originally neutral stimulus that is paired with an unconditioned stimulus and eventually produces the desired response in an organism when presented alone
Conditioned response (CR)
After conditioning, the response an organism produces when only a conditioned stimulus is presented
Desensitization therapy
A conditioning technique designed to gradually reduce anxiety about a particular object or situation
Conditioned food (taste) aversion
Conditioned avoidance of certain foods even if there is only one pairing of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli
Operant behavior
Behavior designed to operate on the environment in a way that will gain something desired or avoid something unpleasant
Operant or instrumental conditioning
The type of learning in which behaviors are emitted (in the presence of specific stimuli) to earn rewards or avoid punishments
Reinforcer
A stimulus that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated
Punisher
A stimulus that follows a behavior and decreases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated
Law of effect
Thorndike’s theory that behavior consistently rewarded will be “stamped in” as learned behavior, and behavior that brings about discomfort will be “stamped out” (principle of reinforcement)
Positive reinforcer
Any event whose presence increases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur
Negative reinforcer
any event whose reduction or termination increases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur
Punishment
Any event whose presence decreases the likelihood that ongoing behavior will recur
Avoidance training
learning a desirable behavior to prevent the occurrence of something unpleasant such as punishment
Learned helplessness
Failure to take steps to avoid or escape from an unpleasant or aversive stimulus that occurs as a result of previous exposure to unavoidable or painful stimuli
Biofeedback
a technique that uses monitoring devices to provide precise information about internal processes, such as heart rate or blood pressure, to teach people to gain voluntary control over these functions
Neurofeedback
a biofeedback technique that monitors brain waves using an EEG to teach people to gain voluntary control over their brain wave activity
Response acquisition
“building phase” of conditioning during which the likelihood or strength of the desired response increases
Intermittent pairing
pairing the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus on only a portion of the learning trials- not as effective
Skinner box
a box often used in operant conditioning of animals, which limits the available response and thus increases the likelihood that the desired response will occur
Shaping
reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior
Extinction
a decrease in the strength of frequency of a learned response because of failure to continue pairing the US and CS (classical conditioning) or withholding of reinforcement (operant conditioning)
Spontaneous recovery
the reappearance of an extinguished response after the passage of time, without further training
Stimulus generalization
transfer of a learned response to different but similar stimuli
Stimulus discrimination
learning to respond to only one stimulus and to inhibit the response to all other stimuli
Response generalization
giving a response that is somewhat different from the response originally learned to that stimulus (does not occur in classical conditioning)
Higher-order conditioning
conditioning based on previous learning; the conditioned stimulus serves as an unconditioned stimulus for further training
Primary reinforcer
a reinforcer that is rewarding in itself: food, water, sex
Secondary reinforcer
a reinforcer whose value is acquired through association with other primary or secondary reinforcers
Contingency
reliable “if-then” relationship between two events such as a CS and US
Blocking
process whereby prior conditioning prevents conditioning to a second stimulus even when the two stimuli are presented simultaneously
Schedule of reinforcement
operant conditioning; rule for determining when and how often reinforcers will be delivered
Fixed-interval schedule
correct response reinforced after fixed length of time
variable-interval schedule
correct response reinforced after varying lengths of time
fixed-ratio schedule
correct response reinforced after fixed number of correct responses
variable-ration schedule
correct response reinforced after variable number of correct responses
Cognitive learning
learning that depends on mental processes that are not directly observable
Latent learning
learning that is not immediately reflected in a behavior change
Cognitive map
learned mental image of a spatial environment that may be called on to solve problems when stimuli in the environment change
Insight
learning that occurs rapidly as a result of understanding all the elements of a problem
Learning set
ability to become increasingly more effective in solving problems as more problems are solved
social learning theory
a view of learning that emphasizes the ability to learn by observing a model or receiving instructions, without firsthand experience by the learner
Observational (vicarious) learning
learning by observing other people’s behavior
Vicarious reinforcement and punishment
reinforcement or punishment experienced by models that affects the willingness of others to perform the behaviors they learned by observing those models
