Learning Flashcards
Classical Conditioning
Whereby an animal or other organism can passively learn to show a naturally occurring reflex action, such as salivation, in response to any stimulus learning through association; also known as Pavlovian conditioning.
Association
A learnt connection between two (or more) objects or events- especially significant in classical conditioning.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
A stimulus that causes an unconditioned response (classical conditioning).
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
A response that occurs naturally in response to the unconditioned stimulus (classical conditioning).
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Something that causes no response (classical conditioning).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
A previously neutral stimulus that is associated with the unconditioned stimulus and eventually causes a conditioned response (classical conditioning).
Conditioned Response (CR)
An automatic response development by being trained to respond to a typically neutral stimulus (classical conditioning).
Extinction
The response is extinguished after being shown several times without reinforcement.
Spontaneous Recovery
The reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period.
Stimulus Generalisation
In classical conditioning, when an organism responds to any stimulus that is similar to the conditioned stimulus.
Stimulus Discrimination
In classical conditioning, when an organism responds to the conditioned stimulus but not to ay stimulus that is similar to the conditioned stimulus.
Aversion Therapy
A form of treatment using classical conditioning to cause an undesired behaviour to create an unwanted response, thereby reducing the incident of the behaviour.
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which behaviour becomes controlled by its consequences.
Voluntary Behaviour
Actions that are controlled by the person or animal performing them.
Three-Phase-Model (ABC of Operant Conditioning)
The assumption that the antecedent makes the conditions right for the behavior to follow and be encouraged or discouraged by its consequences.
Discriminative Stimulus
In operant conditioning, Skinner’s term for the pre-condition that indicates that behaviour will be reinforced.
Reinforcer
A stimulus that encourages the likelihood of a response.
Positive Reinforcer
A consequence that strengthens a response by providing a pleasant or satisfying outcome, increasing the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.
Negative Reinforcer
The removal, reduction, or prevention of an unpleasant stimulus in response to a behaviour, increasing the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.
Punisher/Punishment
Any event that reduces the likelihood of a particular response occurring over time.
Response Cost
A form of punishment that occurs when something desirable is removed (e.g. removing a mobile phone if misused).
Effective Punishment
Punishment administered in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of the behaviour recurring.
Shaping
A procedure in which a reinforcer is given for each response that is closer and closer and eventually leads to the desired response; also called the ‘method of successive approximations’.
Stimulus Generalisation
In operant conditioning, when a behaviour is displayed because of a discriminative stimulus that is similar to the original.
