chapter 8 vocab Flashcards
blocking
in classical conditioning, the finding that no conditioning occurs to a stimulus if it is combined with a previously conditioned stimulus during conditioning trials. suggests that information, surprise value, or prediction error is important in conditioning
categorize
to sort or arrange different items into classes or categories
classical conditioning
the procedure in which an initially neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus. The result is that the conditioned stimulus begins to elicit a conditioned response. Classical conditioning is nowadays considered important as both a behavioural phenomenon and as a method to study simple associative learning
conditioned compensatory response
in classical conditioning, a conditioned response that opposes, rather than is the same as, the unconditioned response. Often seen in conditioning when drugs are used as unconditioned stimuli
conditioned response
the response that is elicited by the conditioned stimulus after classical conditioning has taken place
conditioned stimulus
an initially neutral stimulus (like a bell, light, or tone) that elicits a conditioned response after it has been associated with an unconditioned stimulus
context
stimuli that are in the background whenever learning occurs. “context” can also be provided by internal stimuli, such as the sensory effects of drugs and mood states. It can also be provided by a specific period in time - the passage of time is sometimes said to change the “temporal context”
discriminative stimulus
in operant conditioning, a stimulus that signals whether the response will be reinforced. it is said to “set the occasion” for the operant response
extinction
decrease in the strength of a learned behaviour that occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus (in classical conditioning). The term describes both the procedure (the US or reinforcer is no longer presented) as well as the result of the procedure (the learned response declines). Behaviours that have been reduced in strength through extinction are said to be “extinguished”
fear conditioning
a type of classical or Pavlovian conditioning in which the conditioned stimulus is associated with an aversive unconditioned stimulus. As a consequence of learning, the CS comes to evoke fear. The phenomenon is thought to be involved in the development of anxiety disorders in humans
goal-directed behaviour
instrumental behaviour that is influenced by the animal’s knowledge of the association between the behaviour and its consequences and the current value of the consequence. Sensitive to the reinforcer devaluation effect
habit
instrumental behaviour that occurs automatically in the presence of a stimulus and is no longer influenced by the animal’s knowledge of the value of the reinforcer. Insensitive to the reinforcer devaluation effect
instrumental conditioning
process in which animals learn about the relationship between their behaviours and their consequences. also known as operant conditioning
law of effect
the idea that instrumental or operant responses are influenced by their effects. Responses that are followed by a pleasant state of affairs will be strengthened and those that are followed by discomfort will be weakened. Nowadays, the term refers to the idea that operant or instrumental behaviours are lawfully controlled by their consequences
observational learning
learning by observing the behaviour of others
operant
a behaviour that is controlled by its consequences
prediction error
when the outcome of a conditioning trial is different from that which is predicted by the conditioned stimuli that are present on the trial. Prediction error is necessary to create Pavlovian conditioning (and associative learning generally). As learning occurs over repeated conditioning trials, the conditioned stimulus increasingly predicts the unconditioned stimulus, and prediction error declines. Conditioning works to correct or reduce prediction error
preparedness
the idea that an organism’s evolutionary history can make it easy to learn a particular association.
punisher
a stimulus that decreases the strength of an operant behaviour when it is made a consequence of the behaviour
quantitative law of effect
a mathematical rule that states that the effectiveness of a reinforcer at strengthening an operant response depends on the amount of reinforcement earned for all alternative behaviours. A reinforcer is less effective if there is a lot of reinforcement in the environment for other behaviours
reinforcer
any consequence of a behaviour that strengthens the behaviour or increases the likelihood that it will be performed again
reinforcer devaluation effect
the finding that an animal will stop performing an instrumental response that once led to a reinforcer if the reinforcer is separately made aversive or undesirable
renewal effect
recovery of an extinguished response that occurs when the context is changed after extinction. Especially strong when the change of context involves return to the context in which conditioning originally occurred. Can occur after extinction in either classical or instrumental conditioning
social learning theory
the theory that people can learn new responses and behaviours by observing the behaviour of others
social models
authorities that are the targets for observation and who model behaviour
spontaneous recovery
recovery of an extinguished response that occurs with the passage of time after extinction. Can occur after extinction in either classical or instrumental conditioning
stimulus control
when an operant behaviour is controlled by a stimulus that precedes it
taste aversion learning
the phenomenon in which a taste is paired with sickness, and this causes the organism to reject - and dislike - that taste in the future
unconditioned response
in classical conditioning, an innate response that is elicited by a stimulus before (or in the absence of) conditioning
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, the stimulus that elicits the response before conditioning occurs
vicarious reinforcement
learning that occurs by observing the reinforcement or punishment of another person
