Chapter 4 Flashcards
learning
a lasting change in behavior or mental processes that results from experience
habituation
learning NOT to respond to the repeated presentation of a stimulus
mere exposure effect
a learned preference for stimuli to which we were previously exposed
behavioral learning
forms of learning, such as classical and operant conditioning, that can be described in terms of stimuli and responses
classical conditioning
a form of behavioral learning in which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the power to produce the same innate reflex typically produced by another stimulus
neutral stimulus
any stimulus that produces no conditioned response prior to learning. It is called the conditioned stimulus when it is brought into the experiment
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, it is the stimulus that produces the unconditioned response
unconditioned response
in classical conditioning, it is the response generated from the unconditioned stimulus prior to learning
acquisition
the initial learning stage where the conditioned response is produced by the conditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus
previously the neutral stimulus, through learning this produces the conditioned response
conditioned response
the response produced by the previously neutral stimulus that used to be associated with the unconditioned stimulus
extinction (classical conditioning)
the weakening of the conditioned response in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus
spontaneous recovery
the unexpected reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a time delay
stimulus generalization
the extension of the learned response to stimulus that is similar to the conditioned stimulus
stimulus discrimination
learning to respond to a particular stimuli but not ones that are similar
operant conditioning
behavioral learning where a response is changed by consequences - stimuli follows response
law of effect
the idea that responses that produce desirable results would be learned or “stamped” into the organism
reinforcer
a condition that occurs after a response that strengthens that response
positive reinforcement
a stimulus/condition added that causes the behavior to occur again
negative reinforcement
a stimulus/condition removed that causes the behavior to occur again
operant chamber
a boxlike apparatus that can be programmed to deliver reinforcers and punishers contingent on the animals behavior
reinforcement contingencies
relationships between a response and the changes in stimulation that follow that response
continuous reinforcement
a type of reinforcement schedule where all correct responses are reinforced
shaping
operant learning technique in which a new behavior is produced by reinforcing responses that are similar to the desired response
intermittent reinforcement
a schedule in which some, but not all, responses are reinforced
extinction (operant conditioning)
a process in which a response learned has been weakened by the removal/absence of reinforcement
schedule of reinforcement
a program specifying the frequency and timing of reinforcments
ratio schedule
a program by which reinforcement depends on the number of correct responses
interval schedule
a program by which reinforcement depends on the time elapsed since the last reinforcement
fixed ratio schedule
a program by which reinforcement is contingent on a certain, unvarying number of responses
variable ratio schedule
a reinforcement program by which the number or responses needed for reinforcement vary from trial to trial
fixed interval schedule
reinforcement is contingent on a fixed time period
variable interval schedule
time period between reinforcements vary from trial to trial
primary reinforcer
a reinforcer (food, sex) that has an innate basis because of it’s biological value to the organism
conditioned (secondary) reinforcer
a stimulus (money/tokens) that acquires its reinforcing power due to association with the primary reinforcer
instinctive drift
the tendency of an organism’s innate response to interfere with the learned behavior
token economy
therapeutic method that uses tokens are used as reinforcers (rewards) and these tokens can be redeemed for a variety of rewards/privileges
premack principle
the concept that a more preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less preferred one
punishment
adverse consequences occurring after a response to diminish the strength of the response
positive punishment
the addition of an adverse stimulus after a response
negative punishment
the removal of an adverse stimulus after a response
insight learning
form of cognitive learning in which problem solving occurs by a sudden reorganizations of perceptions
cognitive map
mental representation of a maze or other physical space, but it is an understanding between concepts
observational learning
form of cognitive learning in which new responses are acquired after watching other people’s behavior and the consequences to those behaviors
long-term potentiation
a biological process involving physical changes that strengthen the synapses in groups of nerve cells that is believed to be the neural basis for learning
