AP psychology : learning vocabulary Flashcards
Associative learning
Learning that certain events occur together.
The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and it’s consequences (operant conditioning)
Learning
A relatively peemanent change in an organisms behavior due to experiences
Classical conditioning
A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli
A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus
Aka Pavlovian or respondent conditioning
Behaviorism
The view that psychology
Should be an objective science that
studies behavior without reference processes
Most research psychologists today agree with 1 but not 2
Unconditioned stimulus
US
In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response
Unconditioned response
UR
In classical conditioning, the nfl earned, natural response to the US
Salivation when food is in the mouth
Conditioned stimulus
CS
Conditioned response
CR
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus.
Acquisition
The initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating of a neutral stimulus with an US so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
Extinction
The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when a US does not follow a CS
Occurs. In operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
Spontaneous recovery
The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
Generalization
The tendency that once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus elicit similar responses
Discrimination
In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.
Operant conditioning
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a Publisher.
Respondent behavior
The bah visor that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; skinner’s term for behavior learned through classical conditioning
Operant behavior
Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
S
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
Chamber known as Skinner box
Contained a bar or key than an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, which attached to devices to record the animals relate of bar pressing or key pecking.
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Reinforcer
In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Positive reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli
Such as food
Negative reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as a shock
Any stimulus that, when removed after response, strengthens the response
Primary reinforcer
An innate,y reinforcing stimuli
Such as one that satisfies a biological need
Conditioned reinforcer
A stimulu that gains it’s reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
Secondary reinforcer
Continuous reinforcement
Reinforcing a behavior everytime it occurs
Parietal (intermittent) reinforcer
Reinforcing a response only Part of the time; results in s,owner acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.
Fixed ratio schedule
In operant conditioning
Variable ratio schedule
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Fixed interval schedule
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Variable interval schedule
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Punishment
An event that decreases the behavior that it follows
Cognitive map
A mental representation of the layout of new environment
Ie. after exploring a maze, rats acted as if they had learned a cognitive map of it.
Latent learning
Learning that occurs but it is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
Intrinsic motivation
A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake
Extrinsic motivation
A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment
Observational learning
Learning by observing others
Modeling
The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
Mirror neurons
Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing others doing so.
The brains mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation, learning language, and empathy
Pro social behavior
Positive, constructive, helpful behavior
Opposite of anti social behavior
