Chapter 5: Learning Flashcards
Learning
A systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience
Behaviorism
A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as wishing, thinking, and hoping
Associative learning
Learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection, or an association between two events
Observational learning
Learning that occurs through observing and imitating another’s behavior
Classical conditioning
Learning process in which neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
A stimulus that produces a response without prior learning
Unconditioned response (UR)
An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response (CR)
The learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after a conditioned stimulus—unconditioned stimulus pairing
Acquisition
The initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired
Generalization (classical conditioning)
The tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response
Discrimination (classical conditioning)
The process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others
Extinction (classical conditioning)
The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent
Spontaneous recovery
The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning
Counterconditioning
A classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response
Aversive conditioning
A form of treatment that consists of repeating pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus
Habituation
Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations
Operant (instrumental) conditioning
A form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of a behaviors occurrence
Shaping
Reward successive approximations of a desired behavior
Reinforcement
The process by which a stimulus or an event (reinforcer) following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again
Positive reinforcement
The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior
Negative reinforcement
The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior
Learned helplessness
Through experience with unavoidable adverse stimuli, and organism learns that it has no control over negative outcomes
Avoidance learning
An organism’s learning that it can altogether avoid a negative stimulus by making a particular response
Primary reinforcer
A reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism’s part to make it pleasurable
Secondary reinforcer
A reinforcer that acquires its positive value through and organisms experience; a secondary reinforcer is a learner or conditioned reinforcer
Punishment
A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur
Positive punishment
The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior
Negative punishment
The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior
Latent learning (implicit learning)
Unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior
Insight learning
A form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of the problem’s solution
