Chapter 5 Flashcards
learning
a relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience
behaviorism
a theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors
associative learning
learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection between two events
classical conditioning
learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and requires the capacity to elicit a similar response
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that produces a response without prior learning (smell of your favorite food makes you hungry)
unconditioned response
an unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus (feeling of hunger after smelling favorite food)
neutral stimulus
a stimulus that at first elicits no response (sound of the bell)
conditioned stimulus
a previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus (sound of the bell)
conditioned response
the learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after a conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus pairing (feeling hungry after hearing the bell)
acquisition
when a response is established based on the conditioning (acquiring the skill)
extinction
the weakening of the conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing
spontaneous recovery
when a conditioned response can recur after a time delay without further conditioning
generalization
performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation (salivating at the sound of a different high pitched noise)
discrimination
the process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others
counterconditioning
changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response (trying to overcome a fear)
aversive conditioning
the use of something unpleasant to stop an unwanted behavior
habituation
decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations
operant conditioning
a form of associative learning in which the consequences change the probability of a behaviors occurrence
shaping
rewarding successive approximations of desired behavior (learning to crawl, stand, step, walk)
reinforcement
the process by which a stimulus or an event following a particular behavior increases the probability it will happen again
positive reinforcement
the presentation of a stimulus following a behavior in order to increase the frequency of said behavior
negative reinforcement
the removal of a stimulus following a behavior in order to increase the frequency of said behavior
learned helplessness
an organism learning that it has no control over negative outcomes
primary reinforcer
a reinforcer that does not take any learning to make it pleasureable (essential to survival)
secondary reinforcer
a reinforcer that is learned or conditioned (money, candy, etc)
punishment
a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior
positive punishment
presentation of a stimulus following a behavior to decrease the frequency of said behavior
negative punishment
the removal of a stimulus following a behavior in order to decrease the frequency of said behavior
latent learning
unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior (learning all the words to a song on the radio)
insight learning
a form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight or understanding of a problems solution (suddenly remembering an answer to a question on a test)
