Psy Exam 3

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learning

Back 1

a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience

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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 in operant conditioning

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classical conditioning

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a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stumuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the UCS. Also called Pavlov conditioning

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behaviorism

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the view that psy 1. should be an objective science 2. studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psy agree with one but not two

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unconditioned reponse (UCR)

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in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the UCS, such as salivation when food is in mouth

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conditioned stimulus (CS)

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in classical conditioning, an orginally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an UCS, comes to triffer a conditioned response

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UCS

Back 7

unconditioned stimulus

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UCR

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unconditioned response

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CS

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conditioned stimulus

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CR

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conditioned response

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aquisition

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the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with the UCS so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a CR. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response

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extinction

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the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

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spontaneous recovery

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the reappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished conditioned response

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generalization

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

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discrimination

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in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a CS and stimuli that do not signal an UCS

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operant conditioning

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a type of learning in which behavior is strengthed if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

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respondent behavior

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behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

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operant behavior

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behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

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law of effect

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Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely

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operant chamber

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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

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shaping

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an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of a desired goal

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reinforcer

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in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

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primary reinforcer

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an innately reinforcement stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

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conditioned reinforcer

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

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continuous reinforcement

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reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

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parital (intermittent) reinforcement

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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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fixed-ratio schedule

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

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variable rate schedule

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

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fixed-interval schedule

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in operant conditioning, a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response onlyy after a specified time has elapsed

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variable-interval schedule

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in operant conditioning, a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

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punishment

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an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

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cognitive map

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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

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latent learning

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animals, like people, can learn from experience, with or without reinforcement.

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intrinsic motivation

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a desire to perform a behavior ofr its own sake and to be effective

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extrinsic motivation

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

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observational learning

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learning by observing others

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mirror neurons

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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

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prosocial behavior

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positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of anitsocial behavior

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memory

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the persistance of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information

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flash bulb memory

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a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

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encoding

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the processing of information into the memory system--for example by extracting meaning

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storage

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the retention of encoded information over time

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retrieval

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the process of getting information out of memory storage

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sensory memory

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the immediate recording of sensory information in the memory system

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short-term memory

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activated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or forgotten. Working memory is a similar concept that focuses more on the processing of briefly stored information

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long-term memory

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the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

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automatic processing

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unconscious encoding of incidental inforamtion, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well-learned inforamtion, such as word meanings

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effortful processing

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encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

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rehearsal

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the conscious repetition of information, either to maintain it in conscioiusness or to encode it for storage

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spacing effect

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the tendency for distributed study or practice to yeild better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice

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serial position effect

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our tendency to recall best the last and first items ina list

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imagery

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mental pictures; a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding