Learning Flashcards
Learning
long-lasting change in behavior resulting from experience
Classical conditioning
type of learning where people and animals can learn to associate neutral stimuli (ex: sound) with stimuli that produce reflexive, involuntary responses (ex: food) and will learn to respond similarly to the new stimulus as they did to the old one (ex: salivate).
Neutral stimuli
stimuli that only focuses attention
Unconditioned stimulus/US/UCS
original stimulus that elicits a natural, reflexive response
Unconditioned response/UR/UCR
the natural response elicited from the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response/CR
the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
Conditioned stimulus/CS
the originally irrelevant stimulus that now triggers a conditioned response after association with an unconditioned stimulus
Acquisition
the acquiring of a new behavior that occurs once one responds to the CS without the US present
Delayed conditioning
acquisition with the presentation of the CS followed by the US
Trace conditioning
acquisition with the presentation of the CS, followed by a short break, followed by the presentation of the US
Simultaneous conditioning
acquisition with the presentation of the CS and the US at the same time
Backward conditioning
acquisition with the US presented first, followed by the CS
Extinction
the process of unlearning a behavior, achieved when the CS no longer elicits the CR
Spontaneous recovery
phenomenon where the CR briefly reappears upon presentation of the CS after a CR has been extinguished and no further training has taken place
Generalization
the tendency to respond to similar CS’
Discrimination
the ability to tell the difference between various stimuli
Aversive conditioning
conditioning to avoid the US
Second-order/Higher-order conditioning
the brief use of a CS as a US to elicit a new stimulus (only possible once a CS elicits a CR)
Learned taste aversions
the aversion developed to certain foods due to illness after ingestion
Salient stimuli
easily noticeable stimuli
Garcia effect
the ease with which animals learn taste aversions that occurs whenever nausea is paired with food or drink
Operant conditioning
type of learning based on the association of consequences with behaviors
Law of Effect
law that states that if consequences to a behavior are pleasant, the stimulus-response connection will be strengthened, increasing the likelihood of that behavior; if consequences to a behavior are unpleasant, the stimulus-response connection will weaken, lessening the likelihood of that behavior
Skinner Box
a box that delivers food to animals with a lever to press or disk to peck
Reinforcer
any event that makes the behavior more likely to occur
Reinforcement
the process of reinforcing a behavior
Positive reinforcement
the addition of something to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring
Negative reinforcement
the removal of something to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring
Escape learning
the termination of an aversive stimulus
Avoidance learning
the avoidance of an aversive stimulus
Punishment
anything that makes a behavior less likely to occur
Positive punishment (usually referred to as punishment)
the addition of something unpleasant to make a behavior less likely to occur
Omission training/negative punishment
the removal of something pleasant to make a behavior less likely to occur
Shaping
technique that reinforces the small steps used to reach the desired behavior
Chaining
technique that links together separate behaviors into a complex activity
Primary reinforcers
reinforcers that are rewarding
Secondary reinforcers
reinforcers that we value
Token economy
system that uses tokens as rewards for performing desired behaviors
Premack principle
principle that states that more probable behaviors can be used to reinforce less probable behaviors
Continuous reinforcement
the reward of a desired behavior continuously
Partial-reinforcement schedules
the reward of a desired behavior intermittently
Partial-reinforcement effect
the phenomenon where behaviors will be more resistant to extinction if not reinforced continuously
Fixed-ratio schedule (FR)
schedule that requires a set number of responses before a response results in reinforcement
Variable-ratio schedule (VR)
schedule that varies the number of responses before a response results in reinforcement
Fixed-interval schedule (FI)
schedule that requires that a certain amount of time elapses before a response will result in reinforcement
Variable-interval schedule (VI)
schedule that varies the amount of time that elapses before a response will result in reinforcement
Instinctive drift
the tendency for animals to forgo rewards to pursue their typical patterns of behavior
Cognitive learning
type of learning that depends on processes not directly observable that argues conditioning has a cognitive component
Contiguity model (V1)
the Pavlovian model that postulates that the more times things are paired, the greater the learning that will take place
Contingency model (V2)
model that postulates that A is contingent upon B when A depends on B and vice versa
Observational learning/modeling
type of learning that occurs through the observation of a behavior
Latent learning
type of learning that becomes obvious only once reinforcement is given for demonstrating it
Abstract learning
type of learning that involves understanding concepts rather than learning simply to secure a reward
Insight learning
type of learning that occurs when one suddenly realizes how to solve a problem
token economy
behavioral therapy
modeling
behavioral therapy
attributional style
a person’s characteristic way of explaining outcomes of events in his or her life
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT or RET)
Cognitive behavioral therapy developed by Albert Ellis. Therapists look to expose and confront the dysfunctional thoughts of their clients.
cognitive therapy
developed by Aaron Beck, usually used in treatment of depression, involves trying to get clients to engage in pursuits that will bring them success
cognitive triad
theorized by Aaron Beck
family therapy
a type of group therapy used to treat families
self-help groups
a type of group therapy that does not involve a therapist
psychopharmacology/chemotherapy
the use of drugs to treat psychological problems
antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics)
block the receptor sites for dopamine, used to treat schizophrenia, may result in tardive dyskinesia
tardive dyskinesia
Parkinsonian-like, chronic muscle tremors
drugs used to treat unipolar depression
tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor drugs (Prozac) which all tend to increase the activity of serotonin
lithium
a metal used to trea the manic phase of bipolar disorder
drugs used to treat anxiety disorders
barbiturates (Miltown) and benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium)
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
when an electric current is passed through one (unilateral ECT) or both (bilateral ECT) hemispheres of the brain
psychosurgery
the purposeful destruction of part of the brain to alter a person’s behavior
prefrontal lobotomy
a type of psychosurgery
psychiatrists
medical doctors and are the only therapists permitted to prescribe medication
clinical psychologists
psychologists with a Ph. D. and specialize in research, assessment, and therapy
counseling psychologists
psychologists with a graduate degree in psychology and treat less severe problems than clinical psychologists do
psychoanalysts
people trained specifically in Freudian methods who may or may not hold medical degrees
paraphilia
the sexual attraction to an object, person, or activity not usually seen as sexual
fetishism
paraphilia
pedophilia
paraphilia
zoophilia
paraphilia
voyeur
paraphilia
masochist
paraphilia
sadist
paraphilia
antisocial personality disorder
little regard for other people’s feelings
dependent personality disorder
rely too much on the attention and help of others
paranoid personality disorder
feel persecuted
narcissistic personality disorder
seeing oneself as the center of the universe
histronic personality disorder
overly dramatic behavior
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
overly concerned with certain thoughts and performing certain behaviors, but not to the point of obsessive compulsive disorder
anorexia nervosa
eating disorder
bulimia
eating disorder
substance use disorder
regular and negative use of alcohol or other drugs that alter behavior
substance dependence
addiction
autism
developmental disorder
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
developmental disorder
Rosenhan Study
study in which healthy individuals were admitted into mental hospitals after saying they were hearing voices. Once in, they acted normally and still were not labeled as impostors.
preconventional
reasoning limited to how things affect themselves
conventional
choice based on how others will view them
postconventional
examines rights and values involved in choice
Criticisms of Lawrence Kohlberg
Carol Gilligan noted that his research was based on boys, her research showed that boys and girls had different moral attitudes, but was later disproved
biopsychological (neuropsychological) theory of gender development
studies demonstrate that biological differences do exist between the sexes
psychodynamic theory of gender development
gender development is a competition for your opposite sex parent, when you realize you can’t win, you imitate your same-sex parent
social-cognitive theory of gender development
effects of society and thoughs about gender on role development
