Ch. 6 Vocab Part 1 Flashcards
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation
habituation
learning that certain events occur together; the events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)
associative learning
any event or situation that evokes a thought
stimulus
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language
cognitive learning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
classical conditioning
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
behaviorism
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
neutral stimulus
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth).
unconditioned response
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
conditioned response
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).
conditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
acquisition
a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus
higher-order conditioning
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
extinction
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
generalization
(1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus (2) in social psychology, unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
discrimination
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
operant conditioning
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
law of effect
in operant conditioning research, 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; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking
operant chamber
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcement
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
shaping
in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
discriminative stimulus
increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers;any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcement
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
primary reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
conditioned reinforcer
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
reinforcement schedule
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement
partial reinforcement
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
variable-interval schedule
an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows
punishment
the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
learning
