Unit 6: Learning Flashcards
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
Ivan Pavlov
behaviorism - the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without references to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2)
dog experiment
neutral stimulus
a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response
unconditioned response
an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus
an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
conditioned response
a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
acquisition
in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response.
in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
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; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished 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 stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
John Watson
human emotions an behaviors are mainly a bundle of conditioned responses
Little Albert Experiment
Associating fear of loud noises to white rats and other furry animals
Operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
B.F. Skinner
developed a behavioral technology that revealed principles of behavior control
reinforcement
any even that strengthens the behavior it follows
shaping
proceure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desire behavior
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcer; 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
primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; aka a secondary reinforcer
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desire response every time it occurs
partial (intermittent) reinforcement
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
fixed-ratio schedule
every so many; reinforcement after every nth behavior
variable-ratio schedule
after an unpredictable number; reinforcement after a random number of behaviors
fixed-interval schedule
every so often; reinforcement for behavior after a fixed time
variable-interval schedule
unpredictably often; reinforcement for behavior after a random amount of time
punishment
an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows
positive punishment
administer an aversive stimulus
ex: spray water on a barking dog
negative punishment
withdraw a rewarding stimulus
ex: take away a teen’s driving privileges
taste aversion
associating events with taste
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
insight
a sudden realization of a problem’s solution
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishmnet
coping
alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods
problem-focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor of the way we interact with that stressor
emotion-focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs relate to one’s stress reaction
learned helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
external locus of control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate
internal locus of control
the perception that you control your own fate
self-control
the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards
Bandura’s bobo doll experiment
showing children adults attacking the bobo doll and them placing them in a room with the bobo doll to see how they treat the doll
observational experiment
learning by observing others; also called social learning
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
prosocial behavior
positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior
antisocial behavior
negative, aggressive behavior
Learning
The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
Law of effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Aversive conditioning
Type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nauseas) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)
Extinction
The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Cognitive map
A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. Ex: after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it
Discriminative stimulus
A stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
