Chapter 7 Flashcards
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together
learning
the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
stimulus
any event or situation that evokes a response
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental information
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
behaviorism
the view that psychology 1 should be an objective science 2 that studies behavior without reference to mental processes
ns
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
ur
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus
us
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that conditionally triggers a response
cr
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
cs
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that comes to trigger a conditioned response
acquistion
in classical conditioning, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response
extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response
generalization
the tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
discrimination
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
law of effect
thorndikes principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and vice versa
operant chamber
in operant conditioning, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer
reinforcement
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behaviorit follows
shaping
in operant conditioning, an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers
negative reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli
primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus
conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
reinforcement schedule
a patten that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
partial reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement
fixed ratio schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
variable ratio schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
fixed interval schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
variable interval schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
punishment
an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of ones environment
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or aviod threatened punishment
observational learning
learning by observing others
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so
prosocial behavior
positive, constructive, helpful behavior
