Learning Vocab Flashcards
Learning
the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
Associative Learning
learning that certain events occur together
Cognitive Learning
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language
Social Learning
Classical Conditioning
a type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli
Neutral Stimulus
a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
Unconditioned Response
an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned Stimulus
a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers an unconditioned response (UR)
Conditioned Response
a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
Conditioned Stimulus
an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)
Higher-Order Conditioning
a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus
Extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response—when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus
Spontaneous Recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of a weakened conditioned response
Generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
Discrimination
the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
Operant Conditioning
a type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher
Positive Reinforcement
increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus
Reinforcement
any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Negative Reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus
Shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Primary Reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
Reinforcement Schedule
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
Fixed-Ratio
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
Variable-Ratio
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Fixed-Interval
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Variable-Interval
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Positive Punishment
an event that decreases a behavior by administering a negative stimulus
Negative Punishment
an event that decreases behavior by removing a rewarding stimulus
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
Biological Preparedness
organism influences by evolutionary history (taste=nausea; prepared to fear storm/blood/height)
Conditioned Food Aversions
biological tendency in which organisms learn to avoid good with specific sight, smell, taste after single experience (eating followed by illness)
