Learning Flashcards
learning
a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience
associative learning
ideas and beliefs reinforce eachother and can be mentally linked to enhance the learning process
classical conditioning
an organsim learns by associating stimuli
unconditioned response (UR)
an unlearned, naturally occuring response
unconditioned stimulus (US)
stimulus that naturally triggers an unconditioned response
conditioned response (CR)
a learned response to a conditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus (CS)
originally irelevant stimulus that now triggers a conditioned response
behaviorism
1) psychology should be an objective science 2) psychology studies behavior w/out reference to the mental process
acquisition
initial stage in classical conditioning & strengthening response in operant conditioning
extinction
diminishing of a conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
reappearance after a pause of an extinguished response
generalization
similar stimulus triggers a conditioned response
discrimination
learned ability to distinguish between conditioned & irelevant stimulus
operant conditioning
behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcment or diminished if followed by a punishment
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
law of effect
behaviors followed by favorable/unfavorable consequences become more/less likely (Thorndike)
operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
operant chamber
a chamber containing a bar or key animals can manipulate to obtain reinforcment
shaping
the reinforcer guides behavior towards desired behavior
reinforcer
any event that strengthens the behavior that follows
positive reinforcment
increasing behaviors by producing a positive stimulus
negative reinforcemnet
increasing behaviors by reducing a negative stimulus
variable ratio shcedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response fter an unpredictalbe number of responses (slot machine)
fixed interval schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specific time has elapsed (mail comes every morning at 8am)
variable interval schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictalbe intervals (waiting for text messages)
fixed ratio schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces after a certain number of responses (a meal deal after 10 purchases)
punishment
an event that decreases the behavior that follows
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
intrinsic motivation
the desire to perform behavior for its own sake
extrinsic behavior
a desire to perform behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment
observational learning
learning by observing others
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior (Bandura & Bobo Doll)
mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing actions
prosocial behavior
positive, helpful, contructive behavior
primary reinforcer
inately reinforcing stimulus that satisfies a biological need
secondary (conditioned) reinforcer
stimulus that gains reinforcing power through its association w/ primary reinforcer
partial reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response everytime it occurs
