Chapter 8 Flashcards
Associative Learning
Learning that certain events occur together
Learning
A relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of experience
Classical Conditioning
Learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response
Behaviorism
The view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes
Ivan Pavlov
Russian physiologist that studied digestive systems of dogs, know for classical conditioning experiments
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response
Unconditioned Response (UR)
Unlearned response that is automatically associated the US
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Stimulus that doss not elicit any response
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association to an US, comes to trigger a CR
Conditioned Response (CR)
Learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus
Acquisition
The initial state in classical conditioning, new response is established and gradually strengthened
Extinction
The weakening of the CR in the absence of the US
Spontaneous Recovery
The CR can appear again without further conditioning
Generalization
The tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the CR
Discrimination
Learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others
John Garcia
Famous for taste aversion experiments
Taste Aversion
Acquisition only takes one time because the response is so strong (hating a food because of a bad memory)
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, involuntary
Operant Behavior
Behavior that operates on the environment produces consequences, voluntary
B. F. Skinner
Behaviorism’s most influential and controversial figure, pioneering study with rats, operate chamber “Skinner box”
Edward L. Thorndike
Law of effect and puzzle box experiment
Law of Effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely while behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Operant Chamber
“Skinners box” puzzle box for animal to reach food or water, used in operant conditioning experiments
Shaping
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of desired behavior
Successive Approximation
Reward all responses that are ever-closer to the desired behavior and ignore all others
Positive Reinforcement
Increasing behavior by presenting a positive stimulus
Negative Reinforcement
Increasing a behavior by taking away an aversive stimulus
Primary Reinforcers
One that is a biological need
Conditioned Reinforcers
One that has bee paired with a primary reinforcer and has acquired value and reinforcement
Positive Punishment
Adding something aversive that decreased the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated
Negative Punishment
Withdraw a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of the behavior being repeated
Continuous Reinforcement
Every time the desired behavior occurs, it is reinforced (learned quickly, extinguishes quickly)
Partial Reinforcement
Reinforcement occurs intermittently (learning takes longer but results are more persistent and stable)
Fixed-ratio Schedules
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
Variable-ratio Schedules
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Fixed-interval Schedules
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after a specified time has elapsed
Variable-interval Schedules
In operant conditioning, a response schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Punishment
When an unpleasant consequence decreases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated
Latent Learning
Learning that occurs but is hot apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
Cognitive Map
Metal representation of the layout of ones environment
Intrinsic Motivation
A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake
Extrinsic Motivation
A desire to perform a behavior due to a promised reward or threat 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.
Albert Bandura
Pioneering researcher of observational learning
Prosocial Behavior
Positive, constructive, helpful behavior (opposite of antisocial behavior)
