ch6 vocab* Flashcards
Learning
any relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience
classical conditioning
a neutral stimulus that can evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus
Extinction
the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency
renewal effect
a response is extinguished in a different environment than it was acquired, the extinguished response will reappear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place
Acquisition
the initial stage of learning a new response tendency
spontaneous recovery
reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of non exposure to the conditioned stimulus
conditioned response (CR)
a learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning
Conditioning
learning associations between events that occur in an organism’s environment
Elicit
drawn forth
stimulus discrimination
an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus
Trial
in classical conditioning consists of any presentation of a stimulus or pair of stimuli
conditioned stimulus (CS)
a previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response
stimulus generalization
an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus
unconditioned response (UR)
an unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning
higher-order conditioning
conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus
evaluative conditioning
changes in the liking of a stimulus that result from pairing that stimulus positive or negative stimuli
unconditioned stimulus (US)
stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning
intermittent reinforcement
occurs when a designated response is reinforced only some of the time
operant conditioning
a form of learning in which voluntary responses come to be controlled by their consequences
negative reinforcement
a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus
primary reinforcers
events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs
reinforcement contingencies
the circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcers
Punishment
occurs when an event following a response weakens the tendency to make that response
Reinforcement
an event following a response increases an organism’s tendency to make that response
avoidance learning
an organism acquires a response that prevents some aversive stimulation from occurring
positive reinforcement
a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus
resistance to extinction
an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer for it has been terminated
secondary reinforcers
events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers
continuous reinforcement
occurs when every instance of a designated response is reinforced
discriminative stimulus
cues that influence operant behavior by indicating the probable consequences of a response
Emit
to send forth
fixed ratio schedule
reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses
schedule of reinforcement
a specific pattern of presentation of reinforcers over time
Skinner Box
small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is systematically recorded while the consequences of the response are controlled
escape learning
an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation
variable ratio schedule
the reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses
conditional reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
Modeling
process of watching then imitating a specific behavior-an important means through which observational learning occurs
learned helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
Biofeedback
a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension
behavior modification
a systematic approach to changing behavior through the application of the principles of conditioning
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental information observing events, watching others, or through language
observational learning
an organism’s responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models
Albert Bandura
conducted a series of classic studies on how children model aggressive behavior
Ivan Pavlov
physiologist who first described the phenomenon now known as classical conditioning
B.F. Skinner
proponent of behaviorist perspective and pioneer in the field of operant conditioning
Edward Thorndike
discovered the law of effect - laid the groundwork for operant conditioning through his work with puzzle boxes
Edward Tolman
developed several theories of cognitive learning including the concept of latent learning
Law of Effect
principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
latent learning
learning that is not apparent from behavior when it first occurs
