Ap Psychology Chapter 8

Front 1

What is learning?

Back 1

A relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience.

Front 2

What is associative learning?

Back 2

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).

Front 3

What is classical conditioning?

Back 3

A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.

Front 4

What is behaviorism?

Back 4

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 with (2).

Front 5

What is unconditioned response (UR)?

Back 5

In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

Front 6

What is unconditioned stimulus (US)?

Back 6

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers a response.

Front 7

What is conditioned response (CR)?

Back 7

In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

Front 8

What is conditioned stimulus (CS)?

Back 8

In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Front 9

What is acquisition?

Back 9

The initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neural stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

Front 10

What is extinction?

Back 10

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.

Front 11

What is spontaneous recovery?

Back 11

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Front 12

What is generalization?

Back 12

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Front 13

What is discrimination?

Back 13

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Front 14

What is operant conditioning?

Back 14

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

Front 15

What is respondent behavior?

Back 15

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner's term for behavior learned through classical conditioning.

Front 16

What is operant behavior?

Back 16

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Front 17

What is law of effect?

Back 17

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by the favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Front 18

What is operant chamber?

Back 18

A chamber also known as a Skinner Box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking. Used in operant conditioning research.

Front 19

What is shaping?

Back 19

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforces guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Front 20

What is reinforcer?

Back 20

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Front 21

What is positive reinforcement?

Back 21

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Front 22

What is negative reinforcement?

Back 22

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.

Front 23

What is primary reinforcer?

Back 23

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

Front 24

What is conditioned reinforcer?

Back 24

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as secondary reinforcer.

Front 25

What is continuous reinforcement?

Back 25

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Front 26

What is partial reinforcement?

Back 26

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.

Front 27

What is fixed-ratio schedule?

Back 27

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Front 28

What is variable-ratio schedule?

Back 28

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Front 29

What is fixed-interval schedule?

Back 29

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Front 30

What is variable-interval schedule?

Back 30

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Front 31

What is punishment?

Back 31

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Front 32

What is cognitive map?

Back 32

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it.

Front 33

What is latent learning?

Back 33

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

Front 34

What is intrinsic motivation?

Back 34

A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake.

Front 35

What is extrinsic motivation?

Back 35

A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment.

Front 36

What is observational learning?

Back 36

Learning by observing others.

Front 37

What is modeling?

Back 37

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Front 38

What are mirror neurons?

Back 38

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, language learning, and empathy.

Front 39

What is prosocial behavior?

Back 39

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.