Unit 6 vocab Flashcards
an organisms decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
habituation
a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience
learning
learning that certain events occur together.
The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) OR
a response and its consequences (operant conditioning)
associative learning
a type of learning which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
classical conditioning
the view that psychology 1) should be an objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with 1 but not 2
behaviorism
in classical conditioning, the unlearned, natural occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US) such as salivation when food is in the mouth
unconditioned response (UR)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally -naturally and automatically- triggers a response
unconditional stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US) comes to trigger a conditioned response
conditioned stimulus (CS)
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
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.
For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone
higher-order conditioning
aka second-order conditioning
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
extinction
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
generalization
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
discrimination
the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
learned helplessness
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
respondent behavior
a type of leaning 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 operant conditioning research, a chamber (aka 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 operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
shaping
in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
discriminative stimulus
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
reinforcer
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. Any stimulus that when presented after a response, strengthens the response
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. Any stimuli that when removed after a response, strengthens the response. Not punishment
negative reinforcement
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
primary reinforcer
a stimulus that gains reinforming power through its association with a primary reinforcer
conditioned reinforcer
aka secondary reinforcer
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
continuous 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
partial (intermittent) reinforcement
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
variable-interval schedule
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows
punishment
a mental representation of the layout of ones environment. for example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a __________ of it
cognitive map
learning that occurs but it 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 perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised reward or avoid threatened punishment
extrinsic motivation
a mental representation of the layout of ones environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a _____________ of it
cognitive map
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 perform 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
observational learning
aka social 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
positive, constructive, helpful behavior. opposite of antisocial behavior
prosocial behavior
