Learning (Chapter 7) Flashcards
Learning
The acquisition, from experience, of new knowledge, skills, or responses that result in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner
Habituation
A general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding [violent movie]
Sensitization
A simple form of learning that occurs when presentation of a stimulus leads to an increased response to a later stimulus [house break in]
Classical conditioning
When a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism
Unconditioned response (UR)
Reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Stimulus that is initially neutral and produces a reliable response in an organism
Conditioned response (CR)
Reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus
Acquisition
Phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together
Extinction
Gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the US is no longer presented
Second-order conditioning
Conditioning where the CS is paired with a stimulus that became associated with the US in an earlier procedure
Spontaneous recovery
Tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period
Stimulus generalization
Stimulus that is similar to an already-conditioned stimulus begins to produce the same response as the original stimulus does.
Stimulus discrimination
Organism learns to differentiate between the CS and other similar stimuli.
Law of Effect
Behavior becomes more likely or less likely depending on its consequences
Shaping
Production of of new forms of operant behavior by reinforcement of successive approximations to the behavior(rat car)
Positive reinforcement
Adding stimulus to increase likelihood of a response
Negative reinforcement
Removing a stimulus to increase likelihood of a response
Partial reinforcement
Schedule reinforcing occurs occasionally, takes longer, habits stick for longer.
Positive punishment
Increase of (unpleasant) stimulus to decrease likelihood of a response
Negative punishment
Removing a (pleasant) stimulus to decrease likelihood of a response
Fixed ratio
Reinforcement for a specific number of behaviors
Variable ratio
Reinforcement for a random number of behaviors
Fixed interval
Reinforcement for a behavior at a fixed time
Variable interval
Reinforcement for a behavior at a random time
Latent learning
Learning that is not immediately expressed in performance
Self-efficacy
People who believe they have the power to exercise some measure of control over their lives are healthier
