Chapter 6 - Learning and Behavior Terms and Concepts Flashcards
Learning
Relatively enduring change in potential behavior and results from experience
Associative Learning
Learning by making an association between two stimulus events (Pavlovian conditioning) or by learning an association between a response and its consequence (operant conditioning)
Pavlovian Conditioning
This is learning that takes place when a neutral stimulus (CS) is paired with a stimulus (UCS) that already produces a response (UCR). After conditioning, the organism responds to the neutral stimulus (CS) in some way. The response to the CS is called a conditioned response (CR).
Operant Conditioning
Learning an association between one’s behavior and its consequence (reinforcement or punishment)
Template Learning
Learning that depends on a particular type of perceptual experience during a critical time in development (examples would include imprinting and language learning)
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
In Pavlovian conditioning, a stimulus that elicits an unlearned response or reflex
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
In Pavlovian conditioning, an unlearned response or reflex caused by an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
In Pavlovian conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response only after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Response (CR)
In Pavlovian conditioning a learned response to a conditioned stimulus
Acquisition
In Pavlovian conditioning, the process of learning to associate a conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus– In operant conditioning, the process of learning to associate responses with a reinforcer or punisher
Delayed Conditioning
In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes place when the conditioned stimulus is presented just before the unconditioned stimulus is presented and continues until the organism begins responding to the unconditioned stimulus
Simultaneous Conditioning
In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes place when the conditioned stimulus is presented at the same time as the unconditioned stimulus
Trace Conditioning
In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes palce when presentation of the conditioned stimulus begins and ends before the unconditioned stimulus is presented
Backward Conditioning
In Pavlovian conditioning presenting the unconditioned stimulus prior to the conditioned stimulus (backward conditioning results in little or no conditioning)
Conditioned Taste Aversion
A learned aversion to a relatively novel taste or smell that occurs followed by illness or nausea
Extinction
In Pavlovian conditioning, the process by which a conditioned response is eliminated through repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning the process of eliminating a response by discontinuing reinforcement for it.
Reinstatement
In Pavlovian conditioning, the reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction has taken place
Generalization
Proces by which an organism responds to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, without undergoing conditioning for each similar stimulus
Discrimination
In Pavlovian & operant conditioning, the process by which responses are restricted to specific stimuli– In social psychology, the behavioral consequence of prejudice in which one group is treated differently from another group
Second-Order Conditioning
A learned association between two conditioned stimuli (CS2-CS1) that can occur following conditioning to CS1 and an unconditioned stimulus (US)
Law of Effect
Behavior followed by reinforcement will be strengthened while behavior followed by punishment will be weakened (theory originally proposed by Edward Thorndike that is the foundation of the operant conditioning theory)
Cumulative Record
A chart recording of operant responses over time–time increment is indicated along the horizontal axis (as response rate increases the slope of the record increases)
Discriminative Stimulus
In operant conditioning, a stimulus that controls a response by signaling the availability of reinforcement
Reinforcement
In operant conditioning, any procedure where an event following a specific response increases the probability that the response will occur
Positive Reinforcement
In operant conditioning, any stimulus presented after a response that increases the probability of the response
Negative Reinforcement
In operant conditioning, any stimulus that increases the probability of a response through its removal
Escape Conditioning
In operant conditioning, learning that takes place when an organism performs a response that will terminate an aversive stimulus
Avoidance Conditioning
In operant conditioning, the learning of a response to a discriminative stimulus that allows an organism to avoid exposure to an aversive stimulus
Primary Reinforcer
In operant conditioning, a stimulus that satisfies a biologically based drive or need (such as hunger, thirst or sleep)
Conditioned Reinforcer
A stimulus that takes on reinforcing properties after being associated with a primary reinforcer
Continuous Reinforcement Schedule
In operant conditioning, the presentation of a reinforcer for each occurrence of a specific behavior
Partial Reinforcement Schedule
In operant conditioning, a schedule that reinforces behavior only part of the time, for example, a ratio or interval schedule
Partial Reinforcement Effect
Behaviors that are acquired on partial instead of continuous reinforcement schedules tend to be established more slowly, but are more persistent when no reinforcement is provided
Fixed Ratio (FR) Schedule
Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning wherein reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses
Variable Ratio (VR) Schedule
Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where reinforcement is provided after an average of a specific number of responses occur
Fixed Interval (FI) Schedule
Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning wherein reinforcement is provided for the first response after a specified period of time has elapsed
Variable Interval (VI) Schedule
Partial reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where opportunities for reinforcement occur at variable time intervals
Shaping
In operant conditioning, a technique in which responses that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior are reinforced step by step, until the desired behavior occurs
Modeling
Learning process wherein an individual acquires a behavior by observing someone else performing that behavior (also known as observational learning)
Punishment
A procedure in which the presentation of a stimulus following a response leads to a decrease in the strength of frequency of the response
Two-Factor Theory of Learning
A theory of avoidance learning that involves both pavlovian and operant conditioning
Cognitive Learning Theory
Theoretical perspective that attempts to study the role of thinking and memory processes and learning
Latent Learning
Learning that is not demonstrated by an immediately observable change in behavior
Cognitive Map
Internal representation of the relationship between events or spatial elements
Observational Learning
Learning process wherein an individual acquires a behavior by observing someone else performing that behavior (also known as modeling)
Social Learning Theory
Theory that emphasizes the role of observation in learning
Synaptic Facilitation
An increase in the size of a postsynaptic potential to a weak stimulus resulting from neuronal changes that underlie learning and memory
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
An increase in a neuron’s sensitivity to fire following a burst of signals to that neuron’s dendrites
