Unit 6 - Learning Flashcards
a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience
learning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
classical conditioning
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus
- ex, pavlov’s dog salivating to the tone/bell
conditioned response
an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
- ex. the white rat shown to little albert makes him scared after the experiment
conditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (such as taste of food)
unconditioned response
a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response
unconditioned stimulus
the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
discrimination
occurs when a conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with a unconditioned stimulus
extinction
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for a stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
- ex, little albert fearing all furry objects
generalization
associating a conditioned stimulus with a new neutral stimulus to create a second conditioned stimulus
higher order conditioning
the reappearance, after a time lapse, of an extinguished conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
refers to the tendency to repeat behaviors that are rewarded, and for behaviors that are followed by unfavorable consequences to become less likely
Thorndike’s principle
law of effect
the process of reinforcing successively closer approximations to a desired behavior
shaping
an event that increases the frequency of the behavior that it follows
reinforcer
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or diminished if followed by a punisher
operant conditioning
any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response
positive reinforcer
any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response
negative reinforcer
unlearned and innately satisfying
primary reinforcer
learned
conditioned reinforcer
reinforcing the response every time it occurs
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time
- gambling
partial reinforcement
a response is reinforced only after a specified time period has elapsed
fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement
a response is reinforced only after specified number of responses have been made
fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
variable-interval schedule of reinforcement
reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
- purchasing lottery tickets
variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement
decreases a behavior when an aversive stimulus is added
positive punishment
decreases a behavior when a rewarding stimulus is removed
negative punishment
increases a behavior when a desirable stimulus is added
positive reinforcement
increases a behavior when an aversive stimulus is removed
negative reinforcement
electronically recording, amplifying, and displaying information regarding subtle physiological responses
biofeedback
a mental representation of the layout of ones environment
cognitive maps
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment
extrinsic motivation
desire to engage in an activity for the sake of its own enjoyment
intrinsic motivation
a sudden realization of a problems solution
insight
the perception that chance or outside forced beyond our personal control determine our fate
external locus of control
perception that one can strongly influence the outcome and destiny of one’s own life
internal locus of control
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
learned helplessness
learning by observing others
- social learning
observational learning
frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another do so
mirror neurons
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
- ex, children imitating what they see on TV
modeling
an organisms decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
habituation
learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)
associative learning
an 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
the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.
most research psychologists agree with the first one and not the second one
behaviorism
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
neutral stimulus
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
acquisition
contains a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key pecking
operant chamber
any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcement
a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
discriminative stimulus
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
reinforcement schedule
an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows
punishment
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
respondent behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
operant behavior
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it in
latent learning
alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods
coping
