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44 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
associative learning |
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) |
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cognitive learning |
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language |
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learning |
the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors |
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stimulus |
any event or situation that evokes a response |
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acquisition |
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 |
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behaviorism |
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) |
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classical conditioning |
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events |
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conditioned response (CR) |
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS) |
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conditioned stimulus (CS) |
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR) |
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discrimination |
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus |
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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 |
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generalization |
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses |
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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. 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 |
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neutral stimulus (NS) |
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning |
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spontaneous recovery |
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response |
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unconditioned response (UR) |
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth) |
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unconditioned stimulus (US) |
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers a response (UR) |
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conditioned reinforcer |
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer |
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continuous reinforcement |
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs |
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fixed-interval schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed |
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fixed-ratio schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses |
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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 |
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negative reinforcement |
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A __________________ is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (not a punishment) |
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operant behavior |
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences |
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operant chamber |
in operant conditioning research, 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; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking |
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operant conditioning |
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher |
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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 |
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positive reinforcement |
increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A _______________________ is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response |
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primary reinforcer |
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need |
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punishment |
an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows |
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reinforcement |
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows |
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reinforcement schedule |
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced |
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respondent behavior |
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus |
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shaping |
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior |
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variable-interval schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals |
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variable-ratio schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses |
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cognitive map |
a mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a ______________________ of it |
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extrinsic motivation |
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment |
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intrinsic motivation |
a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake |
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latent learning |
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it |
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mirror neurons |
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 |
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modeling |
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior |
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observational learning |
learning by observing others |
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prosocial behavior |
positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior |