Learning Flashcards

Covering material from Unit II of Introduction to Psychology

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1
Q

learning

A

a relatively permanent chance in performance potential that arises from experience

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2
Q

classical conditioning

A

a type of learning response; a neutral object comes to elicit a response when it is associated with a stimulus that already produces that response

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3
Q

unconditioned response (UR)

A

a response that does not have to be learned, such as a reflex

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4
Q

unconditioned stimulus (US)

A

a stimulus that elicits a response, such as a reflex, without an prior learning

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5
Q

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A

a stimulus that elicits a response only after learning has taken palce

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6
Q

conditioned response (CR)

A

a response to a conditioned stimulus, a response that has been learned

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7
Q

acquistion

A

the gradual formation of an association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli

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8
Q

extinction

A

a process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is repeated without the conditioned stimulus

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9
Q

contiguity

A

the critical element in acquisition of a learned association; stimuli occur together in time

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10
Q

spontaneous recovery

A

a process in which a previously extinguished response reemerges after the presentation of the conditioned stimulus

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11
Q

stimulus generalization

A

learning that occurs when stimuli are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus produce the conditioned response

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12
Q

stimulus discrimination

A

a differentiation between two similar stimuli when only one of them is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimuli

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13
Q

second-order conditioning

A

when a conditioned stimulus becomes associated with other stimuli associated with the unconditioned stimulus

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14
Q

phobia

A

an acquired fear that is out of proportion tot he real threat of an object of a situation

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15
Q

Little Albert Study

A

study that demonstrated the role of classical conditioning in the development of phobias, conducted by John B. Watson. Watson paired a small rat (CS) and a loud noise (US) until eventually just the CS produced fear in little albert

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16
Q

systematic desensitization

A

behavioral therapist Joseph Wolpe developed a formal treatment based on counter-conditioning

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17
Q

conditioned food aversion

A

the association between eating a novel food and getting sick, even when the illness occurs hours after eating is so strong that food aversion can formed in one trial

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18
Q

biological preparedness

A

the theory that some animals are genetically programmed to fear certain objects that are potentially dangerous

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19
Q

Rescorla-Wagner model

A

a cognitive model of classical conditioning; it states that the strength of the CS_US association is determined by the extent tow which the unconditioned stimulus is unexpected or surprising

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20
Q

instrumental (operant) conditioning

A

a learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that it will be performed in the future

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21
Q

puzzle box

A

a small cage with a trapdoor that would open if the animal inside performs a specific action

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22
Q

law of effect

A

Thondikes’ general theory of learning; Any behavior that leads to a “Satisfying state of affiars” is likely to occur again and any behavior that leads to an “annoying” state of affairs is less likely to occur again

23
Q

reinforcer

A

a stimulus that follows a response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated

24
Q

operant chamber

A

a small chamber with one level connected to a food supply and a second level connected to a water supply. the chamber assesses how quickly the animal learns to use the levers to receive food

25
Q

positive punishment

A

the administration of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring

26
Q

negative punishment

A

the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring

27
Q

positive reinforcement

A

the administration of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior’s being repeated

28
Q

negative reinformcement

A

the removal of a stimulus to increase the probability of a behavior’s being repeated

29
Q

shaping

A

reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior

30
Q

primary reinforcers

A

reinforcers necessary for survival like food or water

31
Q

secondary reinforcers

A

events or objects that serve as reinforcers but do not actually satisfy biological needs

32
Q

Premack principle

A

a more valued activity can be used to reinforce the performance of a less valued activity

33
Q

continuous reinforcement

A

a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced each time it occurs

34
Q

partial reinforcement

A

a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced intermittently

35
Q

ratio schedule

A

a schedule in which reinforcement is based on the number of times the behavior occurs

36
Q

interval schedule

A

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a specific unit of time

37
Q

fixed schedule

A

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a specific number of occurrences on or after a specific amount of time

38
Q

variable scedule

A

a schedule in which reinforcement is provided at different rates or at different times

39
Q

partial-reinforcement extinction effect

A

the greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement

40
Q

behavior modification

A

the use of operant conditioning techniques to eliminate unwanted behavior and replace them with desirable ones

41
Q

cognitive map

A

a visual/spatial mental representation of an environment

42
Q

latent learning

A

learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement

43
Q

insight learning

A

a solution suddenly emerges after either a period of inaction or contemplation of a problem

44
Q

meme

A

a unit of knowledge transmitted within a culture

45
Q

observational learning

A

the acquisition or modification of a behavior after exposure to at least one performance of that behavior

46
Q

Bandura’s BoBo Doll Study

A

Bandura shows the influence of observational learning when children who saw adults aggressively play with a doll acted in a similarly agreessive way during their turn

46
Q

Modeling

A

The imitation of observed behavior

47
Q

Vicarious learning

A

Learning the consequences of an action by watching others being rewarded or punished for performing the action

48
Q

mirror neurons

A

neurons that are activated when one observes another individual engage in an action and when one performs the action that was observed

49
Q

latent learning

A

learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement

50
Q

Tolman’s Study of Latent Learning

A

Rats that were regularly reinforced for correctly running through a maze showed improved performance oner time compared with rather that did not receive reinforcement.

51
Q

habituation

A

a decrease in behavior response after repeated exposure to a nonthreatening stimulus

52
Q

sensitization

A

an increase in behavioral response after exposure to a threatening stimulus

53
Q

long term potentiation (LTP)

A

the strengthening of a synaptic connection, making the postsynaptic neurons more easily activiated