Chapter 8 Key Terms Flashcards
a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience
learning
learning that certain events occur together; the event may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)
Associative learning
the process of learning associations
conditioning
a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli; a neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus; AKA: Pavlovian or respondent conditioning
classical conditioning
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes; most research psychologists agree with __ but not with __
Behaviorism12
in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth
Unconditioned response (UR)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally (naturally and automatically) triggers a response
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
Conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response; in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
acquisition
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
extinction
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
generalization
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
discrimination
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Operant conditioning
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner’s term for behavior learned through classical conditioning
Respondent behavior:
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
Operant behavior
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Law of effect
a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking; used in operant conditioning research
Operant chamber (Skinner’s box)
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
shaping
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcer
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food
Positive reinforcement
any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
positive reinforcer
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock; is not punishment
Negative reinforcement
any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
Primary reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
Conditioned (secondary) reinforcer
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
Continuous 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
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
Fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Variable-interval schedule
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows
punishment
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment; for example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned one of it
Cognitive map
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
Latent learning
a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake
Intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment
Extrinsic motivation
learning by observing others
Observational learning
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
modeling
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, and empathy
Mirror neurons
positive, constructive, helpful behavior; the opposite of antisocial behavior
Prosocial behavior
