Chapter 6 Flashcards
associative learning
form of learning that involves connecting certain stimuli or events that occur together in the environment (classical and operant conditioning)
cognitive map
mental picture of the layout of the environment
higher-order conditioning
(also, second-order conditioning) using a conditioned stimulus to condition a neutral stimulus
latent learning
learning that occurs, but it may not be evident until there is a reason to demonstrate it
law of effect
behavior that is followed by consequences satisfying to the organism will be repeated and behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences will be discouraged
radical behaviorism
staunch form of behaviorism developed by B. F. Skinner that suggested that even complex higher mental functions like human language are nothing more than stimulus-outcome associations
secondary reinforcer
has no inherent value unto itself and only has reinforcing qualities when linked with something else (e.g., money, gold stars, poker chips)
vicarious punishment
process where the observer sees the model punished, making the observer less likely to imitate the model’s behavior
vicarious reinforcement
process where the observer sees the model rewarded, making the observer more likely to imitate the model’s behavior
Learning
change in behavior or knowledge that is the result of experience
unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
stimulus that automatically and naturally triggers a response
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
unlearned, naturally occurring automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus (CS)
previously neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to
trigger a conditioned response
conditioned response (CR)
learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulus
Taste aversion
If a flavor is followed by an illness experience, animals will not consume the flavor in the future
stimulus generalization
If a response is conditioned to one stimulus, the organism may also respond to a similar stimulus
stimulus discrimination
Occurs when original CS predicts CR, but similar stimuli don’t
spontaneous recovery
return of a previously extinguished conditioned response
Operant Conditioning
response is increased or decreased by reinforcement or punishment
Acquisition
period of initial learning in classical conditioning in which a human or an animal begins to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus will begin to elicit the conditioned response
Positive Reinforcement
add stimulus to increase behavior
Negative Reinforcement
remove stimulus to increase behavior
Positive Punishment
add stimulus to decrease behavior
Negative Punishment
remove stimulus to decrease behavior
Continuous Reinforcement
Every time, faster learning. faster extinction
Partial Reinforcement
Part of the time, slower learning, higher resistance to extinction
Fixed-Ratio
Set number of responses must occur before behavior is rewarded
Variable Ratio
Number of response are unpredictable before reward
Observational learning
Learning by looking at others
Variable Interval
Behavior rewarded after unpredictable amount of time
Fixed Interval
Behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time
Classical conditioning
neutral stimulus associated with natural response
