Chapter 7 Flashcards
Learning
the process of acquiring through experiencing new and relatively enduring information or behaviors. We learn by associating certain sensory stimuli with feelings/behaviors.
Associative Learning
learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (as in operant conditioning).
Stimulus
any event or situation that evokes a response.
Respondent Behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus (associating stimuli that we do not control and responding automatically, as in classical conditioning).
Operant Behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence (as in operant conditioning).
Cognitive Learning
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language. Another form of learning.
Classical Conditioning
A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food). Can occur simultaneously with Operant Conditioning.
Behaviorism
a view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with the first park, but not the second part.
Neutral Stimuli (NS)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.
Unconditioned Response (UR)
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth).
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers an unconditioned response (UR).
Conditional Response (CR)
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).
Acquisition
in classical conditioning, the initial stage—when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditional stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response (in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response).
Higher-Order Conditioning
a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone (also called second-order conditioning).
Extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.
Spontaneous Recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. This suggests that extinction suppresses the CR rather than eliminating it.
Generalization
(also called stimulus generalization) in classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli like the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. (In operant conditioning, generalization occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other, similar situation).
Discrimination
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and a similar stimulus that do not signal an unconditional stimulus. (In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced).
Pavlov’s Legacy
Pavlov’s theories are now backed up by neuroscience. Some of his ideas were incomplete, but he created a solid base as to how learning occurs. Pavlov’s work has shown a common way that all species learn. Showed a way that learning can be studied objectively.
Applications of Classical Conditioning
- Drug Cravings
a. Breaking the association between a drug-using context and a drug’s reward may help to treat substance use disorder. - Food Cravings
a. Food cravings can essentially come from a conditioned response in which people associate sweet feelings with sweet foods. - Immune Responses
a. When a particular taste accompanies a drug that influences immune responses, the taste by itself may come to produce an immune response.
Operant Conditioning
a type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher.
Law of Effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.
Operant Chamber
in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or a key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking.
