Unit 3: Learning Flashcards
classical conditioning
a type of learning where one learns to link stimuli and events
habituation
decreased response to a stimulus due to repeated exposure
associative learning
certain events occur together
behaviorism
view that psychology should study behavior without reference to the mental process
neutral stimulus
elicits no response before conditioning
unconditioned response
unlearned behavior, naturally occuring to us
unconditioned stimulus
naturally triggers a response
conditioned response
learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
conditioned stimulus
an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus triggers a conditioned response
acquisition
In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
extinction
diminishing of a conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
generalization
tendency for similar conditioned stimuli to evoke a similar response
discrimination
learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
law of effect
behaviors followed by favorable consequences will become more likely and vice versa
operant conditioning
type of learning where behavior is strengthened by reinforcers and diminished by punishments
shaping
procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
discriminative stimulus
in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, providing consequences
preparedness
the predispositions that affect learning
instinctive drift
tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predispositioned patterns
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until an incentive is present
intrinsic motivation
desire to perform behavior for it’s own sake
extrinsic motivation
desire to perform behavior to receive promised rewards or to avoid threatened punishment
problem-focused coping
alleviating stress by challenging stressor
emotion-focused coping
alleviating stress by attending to emotional needs
learned helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
external locus of control
perception that outside forces determine fate
internal locus of control
perception that you control your own fate
positive reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli; any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.
negative reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: not punishment.)
positive punishment
the administration of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring
negative punishment
the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior’s recurring
fixed-interval schedule
reinforcement after a specific time has elapsed
variable-interval schedule
reinforcement unpredictable amount of time has elapsed
fixed-ratio schedule
reinforcement after specific number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
reinforcement after unpredictable number of responses
