Unit 4 Vocab - Learning

Question 1

learning

Answer 1

the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information/behaviors

Question 2

associative learning

Answer 2

learning that certain events occur together
the events may be 2 stimuli or response/consequence

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

a type of learning in which we link 2 or more stimuli
(ex. Pavlov’s experiments)

Question 4

behaviorism

Answer 4

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Question 5

unconditioned response

Answer 5

an unlearned naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 6

a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers an unconditioned response

Question 7

conditioned response

Answer 7

a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

Question 8

conditioned stimulus

Answer 8

an originally neutral stimulus that after association comes to trigger a conditioned stimulus

Question 9

acquisition

Answer 9

when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

Question 10

extinction

Answer 10

the diminishing of a conditioned response when US does not follow CS

Question 11

spontaneous recovery

Answer 11

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Question 12

generalization

Answer 12

once a response has been conditioned - the tendency for stimuli similar to the CS to elicit similar responses

Question 13

discrimination

Answer 13

the learned ability to distinuish between a CS and similar stimuli that do not signal an UC

Question 14

operant conditioning

Answer 14

type of learning in which a bahavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer, and less likely to recur if followed by a punishment

Question 15

respondent behavior

Answer 15

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli

Question 16

operant behavior

Answer 16

behavior that operates on the environment producing consequences

Question 17

Law of Effect

Answer 17

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences becomes less likely

Question 18

operant chamber

Answer 18

a chamber/Skinner Box that contains a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food/water reinforcement, attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing/key pecking

Question 19

shaping

Answer 19

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Question 20

reinforcement

Answer 20

any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Question 21

positive reinforcement

Answer 21

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers
when added strengthens a response

Question 22

negative reinforcement

Answer 22

increasing behaviors by stopping/reducing aversive stimuli
when removed strengthens a response

Question 23

primary reinforcer

Answer 23

an innately reinforcing stimulus, usually satisfies a biological need

Question 24

conditioned reinforcer

Answer 24

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (AKA secondary reinforcer)

Question 25

conditioned reinforcement

Answer 25

occurs when a stimulus reinforces set behaviors through its association with a primary reinforcer

Question 26

partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

Answer 26

reinforcing a response only part of the time, results in slower but more permanent acquisition

Question 27

fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 27

a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after specified number of responses

Question 28

variable-ratio schedule

Answer 28

a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Question 29

fixed-interval schedule

Answer 29

a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Question 30

variable-interval schedule

Answer 30

a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Question 31

punishment

Answer 31

an event that tends to decrease the bahavior it follows

Question 32

cognitive map

Answer 32

a mental representation of one’s environment
(ex. rats in the maze)

Question 33

latent learning

Answer 33

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Question 34

intrinsic motivation

Answer 34

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Question 35

extrinsic motivation

Answer 35

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards/to avoid threatened punishment

Question 36

observational learning

Answer 36

learning by observing others
(AKA social learning)

Question 37

modeling

Answer 37

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Question 38

mirror neurons

Answer 38

frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions/observe others doing so
the brain is mirroring another’s action

Question 39

prosocial behavior

Answer 39

positive, constructive, helpful behavior (opposite of antisocial behavior)