Chapter Six: Learning And Reward

Front 1

Vocabulary: LEARNING

Back 1

An enduring change in behavior that results from experience.

Front 2

Vocabulary: CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

Back 2

A type of learned response that occurs when a neutral object comes to elicit a reflexive response when it is associated with a stimulus that already produces that response.

Front 3

Vocabulary: (UR) UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE

Back 3

A response that does not have to be learned, such as a reflex.

Front 4

Vocabulary: (US) UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS

Back 4

A stimulus that elicits a response, such as a reflex, without any prior learning.

Front 5

Vocabulary: (CS) CONDITIONED STIMULUS

Back 5

A stimulus that elicits a response only after learning has taken place.

Front 6

Vocabulary: (CR) CONDITIONED RESPONSE

Back 6

A response that has been learned.

Front 7

Vocabulary: ACQUISITION

Back 7

A process in which the gradual formation of an association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.

Front 8

Vocabulary: EXTINCTION

Back 8

A process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is repeated without the unconditioned stimulus.

Front 9

Vocabulary: SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY

Back 9

A process in which a previously extinguished response reemerges following presentation of the conditioned stimulus.

Front 10

Vocabulary: STIMULUS GENERALIZATION

Back 10

Occurs when stimuli that are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus produce the conditioned response.

Front 11

Vocabulary: STIMULUS DISCRIMINATION

Back 11

A learned tendency to differentiate between two similar stimuli if one is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimulus and the other is not.

Front 12

Vocabulary: PHOBIA

Back 12

An acquired fear that is out of proportion to the real threat of an object or a situation.

Front 13

Vocabulary: BIOLOGICAL PREPAREDNESS

Back 13

The idea that animals are biologically programmed to learn to fear specific objects.

Front 14

Vocabulary: RESCORLA-WAGNER MODEL

Back 14

A cognitive model of classical conditioning that states that the strength of the CS-US association is determined by the extent to which the unconditioned stimulus is unexpected.

Front 15

Vocabulary: OPERANT CONDITIONING

Back 15

A learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that it will be preformed in the future.

Front 16

Vocabulary: LAW OF EFFECT

Back 16

Thorndike's general theory of learning which states that any behavior that leads to a "satisfying state of affairs" is more likely to occur again, and that those that lead to an "annoying state of affairs" are less likely to recur.

Front 17

Vocabulary: REINFORCER

Back 17

A stimulus following a response that increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated.

Front 18

Vocabulary: SHAPING

Back 18

A process of operant conditioning that involves reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior.

Front 19

Vocabulary: PRIMARY REINFORCERS

Back 19

Reinforcers that are innately reinforcing, such as those that satisfy biological needs.

Front 20

Vocabulary: SECONDARY REINFORCERS

Back 20

Events or objects that become reinforcers through their repeated pairings with primary reinforcers.

Front 21

Vocabulary: PUNISHMENT

Back 21

A stimulus following a response that decreases the likelihood that the response will be repeated.

Front 22

Vocabulary: POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Back 22

The increase in the probability of a behavior's being repeated being repeated following the administration of a pleasurable stimulus, referred to as a reward.

Front 23

Vocabulary: NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT

Back 23

The increase in the probability of a behavior's being repeated through the removal of an aversive stimulus.

Front 24

Vocabulary: POSITIVE PUNISHMENT

Back 24

Punishment that occurs with administration of a stimulus that decreases the probability of a behavior's recurring.

Front 25

Vocabulary: NEGATIVE PUNISHMENT

Back 25

Punishment that occurs with removal of a stimulus that decreases the probability of a behavior's recurring.

Front 26

Vocabulary: CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT

Back 26

A type of learning in which the desired behavior is reinforced each time it occurs.

Front 27

Vocabulary: PARTIAL REINFORCEMENT

Back 27

A type of learning in which behavior is reinforced intermittently.

Front 28

Vocabulary: RATIO SCHEDULE

Back 28

A schedule in which reinforcement is based on the number of times the behavior occurs.

Front 29

Vocabulary: INTERVAL SCHEDULE

Back 29

A schedule in which reinforcement is based on a specific unit of time.

Front 30

Vocabulary: FIXED SCHEDULE

Back 30

A schedule in which reinforcement is consistently provided upon each occurrence.

Front 31

Vocabulary: VARIABLE SCHEDULE

Back 31

A schedule in which reinforcement is applied at different rates or at different times.

Front 32

Vocabulary: PARTIAL-REINFORCEMENT EXTINCTION EFFECT

Back 32

The greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement.

Front 33

Vocabulary: COGNITIVE MAP

Back 33

A visual/spatial mental representation of the environment.

Front 34

Vocabulary: LATENT LEARNING

Back 34

Learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement.

Front 35

Vocabulary: MEME

Back 35

The knowledge transferred within a culture.

Front 36

Vocabulary: OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Back 36

Learning that occurs when behaviors are acquired or modified following exposure to others performing the behavior.

Front 37

Vocabulary: MODELING

Back 37

The imitation of behavior through observational learning.

Front 38

Vocabulary: VICARIOUS LEARNING

Back 38

Learning that occurs when people learn the consequences of an action by observing others being rewarded or punished for performing the action.

Front 39

Vocabulary: MIRROR NEURONS

Back 39

Neurons in the premotor cortex that are activated during observation of others performing an action.

Front 40

Vocabulary: VARIABLE SCHEDULE

Back 40

A schedule in which reinforcement is applied at different rates or at different times.

Front 41

Vocabulary: PARTIAL-REINFORCEMENT EXTINCTION EFFECT

Back 41

The greater persistence of behavior under partial reinforcement than under continuous reinforcement.

Front 42

Vocabulary: COGNITIVE MAP

Back 42

A visual/spatial mental representation of the environment.

Front 43

Vocabulary: LATENT LEARNING

Back 43

Learning that takes place in the absence of reinforcement.

Front 44

Vocabulary: MEME

Back 44

The knowledge transferred within a culture.

Front 45

Vocabulary: OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING

Back 45

Learning that occurs when behaviors are acquired or modified following exposure to others performing the behavior.

Front 46

Vocabulary: MODELING

Back 46

The imitation of behavior through observational learning.

Front 47

Vocabulary: VICARIOUS LEARNING

Back 47

Learning that occurs when people learn the consequences of an action by observing others being rewarded or punished for performing the action.

Front 48

Vocabulary: MIRROR NEURONS

Back 48

Neurons in the premotor cortex that are activated during observation of others performing an action.