Chapter 8 Flashcards
Associative learning
Learning that certain events occur together (in CC we associate 2 stimuli)
Learning
A relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience
Classical conditioning
Learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus & acquired the capacity to elicit a similar response
Behaviorism
The view that psychology 1. Should be an objective science that 2. Studies behavior without reference to mental processes
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
A stimulus that naturally & automatically triggers a response
Unconditioned response
Unlearned response that is automatically associated with unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
In classical conditioning the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus
Conditioned response
In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association w/ an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
Acquisition
The initial stage in classical conditioning. The phase associating a neutral stimulus w/ an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.
extinction
The diminishing of a conditioned response. Occurs in classical conditioning an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus. Occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
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 response
Discrimination
In classical conditioning the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus & stimuli that do not signal am unconditioned stimulus
Ivan Pavlov
Russian physiologist -studied digestive system of dogs
Neutral stimulus
Stimulus that does not elicit any response
Taste aversion
Acquisition only takes one time because the response is so strong. (Protection from our environment)
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Respondent Behavior
Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
Operant Behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
B. F. Skinner
Behaviorism’s most influential & controversial figure. Studies with rats. operant chamber (skinner box)
Edward L. Thorndike
Law of Effect
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer & closer approximations
Successive Approximation
Reward behavior when it gets closer & closer to the goal (baby steps)
Positive Reinforcement
Increasing behavior by presenting a positive stimulus
Negative Reinforcement
increasing a behavior by taking away an aversive stimulus
Primary Reinforcers
one that satisfies a biological need
Conditioned (second) reinforcers
One that has been paired with a primary reinforce & has acquired value & reinforcement
Positive Punishment
adding something aversive that decreases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated
negative punishment
withdraw a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood the behavior will be repeated
continuous reinforcement
everytime the desired behavior occurs, it is reinforced. (learned quickly but extinguishes quickly)
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
learning takes longer, but results are more persistant and stable
fixed-ratio schedules
specific # of correct responses is required before reinforcement occurs. Fixed=predictable ratio=responses
variable-ratio schedules
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable # of responses
Fixed-interval schedules
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specific time has elapsed
variable-interval schedules
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
punishment
an event that decreases the behavior it follows
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
cognitive mag
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. for example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they had learned a cognitive map of it.
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment
observational learning
learning by observing others
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. the brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation, language learning & empathy
albert bandura
bobo doll
prosocial behavior
positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behaviors.
