Key Terms 6 Flashcards
acquisition
refers to the first stages of learning when a response is established. In classical conditioning, it refers to the period when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response
classical conditioning
conditioned response involving behaviors, usually involuntary
conditioned response
response based on conditioning
conditioning
theory that the reaction to a stimulus can be modified by learning
fixed interval schedule
In operant conditioning, a fixed-interval schedule is a schedule of reinforcement where the first response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed (study more before a test)
insight
occurs when a solution to a problem presents itself quickly and without warning
latent learning
form of learning not immediately expressed by an overt response
mirror neurons
A mirror neuron is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron “mirrors” the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. Such neurons have been directly observed in primate species.
negative reinforcement
a response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.
observational learning
learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others. It is a form of social learning which takes various forms, based on various processes.
positive punishment
involves presenting an unfavorable outcome or event following an undesirable behavior.
premack principle
preferred behaviors, or behaviors with a higher level of intrinsic reinforcement, can be used as rewards, or reinforcements, for less preferred behaviors.
spontaneous recovery
reappearance of a response (a Conditioned Response; CR) that had been extinguished
stimulus generalization
tendency for the conditioned stimulus to evoke similar responses after the response has been conditioned.
unconditioned stimulus
is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response. For example, when you smell one of your favorite foods, you may immediately feel very hungry
variable ratio schedule
schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses (ex - gambling)
higher-order conditioning
(also known as Second Order Conditioning) is a classical conditioning term that refers to a situation in which a stimulus that was previously neutral (e.g., a light) is paired with a conditioned stimulus
cognitive-social learning theory
that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation
conditioned taste aversion
occurs when an animal associates the taste of a certain food with symptoms caused by a toxic, spoiled, or poisonous substance. Generally, taste aversion is developed after ingestion of food that causes nausea, sickness, or vomiting.
biological preparedness
suggests that humans and animals are inherently primed to form certain associations
cognitive map
a mental representation of one’s physical environment.
conditioned stimulus
previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response
extinction
disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced
fixed ratio schedule
schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses. … One advantage of this type of schedule is that it produces a high, steady rate of responding with only a brief pause after the delivery of the reinforcer. (ex - paid by the piece factory workers)
instinct drift
reverting back to instincts that hadn’t appeared for awhile (killer whale attacking trainer)
law of effect
psychological principle advanced by Edward Thorndike in 1905 on the matter of behavioral conditioning (not yet formulated as such) which states that “responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation
negative punishment
taking away a certain desired item after the undesired behavior happens in order to decrease future responses
neutral stimulus
stimulus which initially produces no specific response other than focusing attention
operant conditioning
conditioning involving two stimuli, usually voluntary
positive reinforcement
a reinforcing stimulus following a behavior that makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future.
shaping
a conditioning paradigm used primarily in the experimental analysis of behavior. The method used is differential reinforcement of successive approximations. It was introduced by B. F. Skinner with pigeons and extended to dogs, dolphins, humans and other species.
stimulus discrimination
the ability to distinguish between one stimulus and similar stimuli. In both cases, it means only responding to certain stimuli but not to those that are similar.
unconditioned response
an unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus
variable interval schedule
schedule in which reinforcement is given to a response after specific amount of time has passed (an unpredictable amount of time), but this amount of time is on a changing/variable schedule. (ex - sport fishing)
phobia
an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something
