UNIT 4 (CH 6) Flashcards
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
classical conditioning
the view that psycholgoy (1)should be an objective science that (2)studies behavior without references to mental processes
behaviorism
in CC, the unlearned, naturally occuring response to the US
unconditioned response
inCC, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response
unconditioned stimulus
inCC, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus
conditioned response
inCC, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an US, comes to trigger a CR
conditioned stimulus
the intial stage in CC when one links a stimulus and an US so that the NS begins triggering the CR. In OC, the strengthening of a reinforced response
acquisition
a procedure in which the CS in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neural stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) CS
higher-order conditioning
the diminishing of a CR; occurs in CC when an US does not follow a CS; occurs in OC when a response is no longer reinforced
extinction
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished CR
spontaneous recovery
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
respondent behavior
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
operant conditioning
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
operant behavior
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
law of effect
in OC research, a chamber (Skinner Box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking
operant chamber
an OC procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
shaping
in OC, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
discriminative stimulus
in OC, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcer
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. It is any stimulus, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as a shock. When removed after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcement
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
primary reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer
conditioned reinforcer
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
continuous reinforcement schedule
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response, but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement
partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule
in OC, reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
fixed-ratio schedule
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows
punishment
positive, constructive, helpful behavior - the opposite of antisocial behavior
prosocial behavior
a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience
learning
an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
habituation
learning that certain events occur together
associative learning
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimulus to the CS to elicit similar responses
generalization
in CC, the learned ability to distinguish between a CS and stimuli that do not signal an US
discrimination
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
learned helplessness
in OC, reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in OC, reinforces a response at specific time intervals
fixed-interval schedule
in OC, reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
variable-interval schedule
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment
cognitive maps
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
latent learning
a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem
insight
a desire to preform a behavior effectively for its own sake
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment
extrinsic motivation
learning by observing others - social learning
observational learning
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
modeling
frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy
mirror neurons
any event or situation that evokes a response
Stimulus
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language
cognitive learning
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
neutral stimulus
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcement
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
reinforcement schedule
a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension
biofeedback
a biological predisposition to learn associations, such as between taste and nausea, that have survival value
preparedness
the tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns
instinctive drift
attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor
problem-forced coping
attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress reaction
emotion-forced coping
our sense of controlling our environments rather than feeling helpless
personal control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond your personal control determine your fate.
external locus of control
the perception that you control your own fate
internal locus of control
the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards
self-control
