chapter 8 Flashcards
learning
A relatively permanent change in behaviour or the capacity for behaviour due to experience.
instincts
An inborn pattern of behaviour elicited by environmental stimuli; also known as a fixed action pattern.
classical conditioning
A type of learning in which associations are formed between two stimuli that occur sequentially in time.
operant conditioning
A type of learning in which associations are formed between behaviours and their outcomes.
habituation
A simple form of learning in which reactions to repeated stimuli that are unchanging and harmless decrease.
sensitization
An increased reaction to many stimuli following exposure to one strong stimulus.
unconditioned stimulus
A stimulus that elicits a response without prior experience.
unconditioned response
A response to an unconditioned stimulus that requires no previous experience.
conditioned response
A response learned through classical conditioning.
conditioned stimulus
An environmental event whose significance is learned through classical conditioning.
acquisition
The development of a learned response.
extinction
The reduction of a learned response. In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) no longer follows the conditioned stimulus (CS). In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when the consequence no longer follows the learned behaviour.
spontaneous recovery
During extinction training, the reappearance of conditioned responses (CRs) after periods of rest.
generalization
The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned stimulus (CS).
discrimination
A learned ability to distinguish between stimuli.
taste aversion
conditioned taste aversion because you’ve trained yourself to avoid the food even though it wasn’t related to your illness.
biological preparedness
Biological preparedness is the idea that people and animals are inherently inclined to form associations between certain stimuli and responses.
rescorla-wagner model
model of classical conditioning, in which learning is conceptualized in terms of associations between conditioned (CS) and unconditioned (US) stimuli. A strong CS-US association means that the CS signals predict the US.
higher order conditioning
Learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus (CS) also elicit conditioned responses (CRs).
latent inhibition
The slower learning that occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is already familiar compared to when the CS is unfamiliar.
law of effect
“responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation
positive reinforcement
the process of encouraging or establishing a pattern of behaviour by offering reward when the behaviour is exhibited:
negative reinforcement
A method for increasing behaviours that allow an organism to escape or avoid an unpleasant consequence.
positive punishment
A consequence that eliminates or reduces the frequency of a behaviour by applying an aversive stimulus.
negative punishment
A method for reducing behaviour by removing something desirable whenever the target behaviour occurs.
primary reinforcer
Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that have innate reinforcing qualities. These kinds of reinforcers are not learned.
secondary reinforcer
A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer.
premack principle
theory of reinforcement that states that a less desired behavior can be reinforced by the opportunity to engage in a more desired behavior.
shaping
Shaping in psychology is defined as a method of increasing a targeted behavior through reinforcement in a process of successive approximation
partial reinforcement
The reinforcement of a desired behaviour on some occasions, but not others.
fixed ratio schedule
A schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following a set number of behaviours.
fixed interval schedule
A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a specified interval is reinforced.
variable ratio schedule
A schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following some variable number of behaviours.
variable interval schedule
A schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a varying period is reinforced.
biological constraints
resistant to evolutionary change
instinctive drift
tendency of an animal to revert to unconscious and automatic behaviour that interferes with learned behaviour from operant conditioning.
latent learning
Learning that occurs in the absence of reinforcement.
observational learning
Learning that occurs when one organism watches the actions of another organism; also known as social learning or modelling.
