learning Flashcards
learning
the modification of preexisting behavior and understanding
habituation
reduces responsiveness to a repeated stimulus
classical conditioning
a procedure in which a neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that triggers an automatic response until the neutral stimulus alone comes to trigger a similar response
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that triggers a response without conditioning
unconditioned response
the automatic, unlearned reaction to a stimulus
conditioned stimulus
an originally neutral stimulus that now triggers a conditioned response
conditioned response
the response triggered by the conditioned stimulus
extinction
the gradual disappearance of a conditioned response
reconditioning
the relearning of a conditioned response following extinction
spontaneous recovery
the temporary reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction
stimulus generalization
a process in which a conditioned response is triggered by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus
stimulus discrimination
a process through which people learn to diffentiate among similar stimuli and respond appropriately to each one
higher order conditioning
a process through which a conditioned stimulus comes to signal another conditioned stimulus that is already associated with an unconditioned stimulus
law of effect
a law stating that if a response made in the presence of a particular stimulus is rewarded, the same response is more likely to occur when that stimulus is encountered again
operant conditioning
a process in which responses are learned on the basis of their rewarding or punishing consequences
operant
a response that has some effect on the world
reinforcer
a stimulus event that increases the probability that the response immediately preceding it will occur again
positive reinforcer
stimuli that strenghten a response if they follow that response
negative reinforcers
the removal of unpleasant stimuli
reinforcement
the process through which a particular response is made more likely to recur
escape conditioning
the process of learning responses that stop an aversive stimulus
avoidance conditioning
the process of learning particular responses that avoid an aversie stimulus
discriminative conditioned stimuli
stimuli that signal whether reinforcement is available if a certain response is made
shaping
the reinforcement of responses that come successively closer to some desired response
primary reinforcers
events of stimuli that satisfy physiological needs basic to survival
secondary reinforcers
rewards that people or animals learn to like
reinforcement schedules
in operant conditioning, rules that determine how and when certain responses will be reinforced
partial reinforcement effect
a phenomenon in which behaviors learned under a partial reinforecement schedule are more difficult to extinguish than those learned on a continuous reinforcement schedule
punishment
the presentation of an aversive stimulus or the removal of a pleasant one following some behavior
learned helplessness
a process in which a person or animal stops trying to exert control after experience suggests that no control is possible
latent learning
learning that is not demonstrated at the time it occurs
cognitive map
a mental representation of the environment
insight
a sudden understanding of what is required to solve a problem
