Chapter 7 - Learning Flashcards
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. for example, classical conditioning (two stimuli) or operant conditioning (a response and its consequence)
stimulus
any event or situation that evokes a response
respondent behaviour
behaviour that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
operant behaviour
behaviour that operates on the environment, producing consequences
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental info, whether by observing event, by watching others, or through language
classical conditioning
learning to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
neutral stimulus
a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers an unconditioned response.
unconditioned response
an unlearned, naturally occurring response (salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (food in the mouth)
conditioned response
a learned response to a previously neutral but now conditioned response
conditioned stimulus
an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an US, comes to trigger a conditioned response
acquisition
in classical conditioning, initial stage when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neural stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
higher-order conditioning
the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second often weaker conditioned stimulus. for example, a dog that hears a tone before food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin to respond to the tone alone.
extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response`
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, 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
skinners idea. behaviour is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
law of effect
rewarding behaviour is likely to occur and punishing behaviour is less likely to occur
operant chamber
in operant conditioning research, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key pecking
reinforcement
any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows
shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behaviour toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behaviour
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviour by presenting positive reinforcers. It is any stimulus that when presented after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcement
increasing behaviours by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. it is any stimulus that when removed after a response, strengthens that response
primary reinforcer
a reinforcing stimulus that satisfies a biological need
conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
reinforcement schedule
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
continuous reinforcement schedule
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
partial reinforcement schedule
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
ever so many. for example, buying 9 coffees and getting 1 free
variable ratio schedule
reinforcement after a random number of behaviours. for example, playing slot machines
fixed interval schedule
reinforcement for behaviour after a fixed time, getting a discount every tuesday
variable interval schedule
reinforcement for behaviour after a random amount of time, as when checking for a Facebook response
punishment
an event that tends to decrease the behaviour it follows
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of ones environment. for example, after a rat has gone through a maze once it has a cognitive map of it
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behaviour effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behaviour to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behaviour
mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or while watching others do that action. the brains mirroring of another action may enable imitation and empathy
prosocial behaviour
positive, constructive, helpful behaviour. the opposite of anti social behaviour
