Psych Chapter 8: Learning

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

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learning

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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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associative learning

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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

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classical conditioning

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the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes

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behaviorism

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

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unconditioned response (UR)

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

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unconditioned stimulus (US)

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

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conditioned response (CR)

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

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conditioned stimulus (CS)

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the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral 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

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acquisition

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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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extinction

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the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

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spontaneous recovery

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

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generalization

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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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discrimination

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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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operant conditioning

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

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respondent behavior

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behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

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operant behavior

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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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law of effect

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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 research

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operant chamber

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

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shaping

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

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reinforcer

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

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positive reinforcement

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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 (NOT punishment)

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negative reinforcement

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

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primary 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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conditioned reinforcer

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reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

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continuous 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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partial (intermittent) reinforcement

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

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fixed-ratio schedule

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

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variable-ratio schedule

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

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fixed-interval schedule

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

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variable-interval schedule

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an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

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punishment

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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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cognitive map

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

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latent learning

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a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

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intrinsic motivation

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

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extrinsic motivation

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learning by observing others

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observational learning

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the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

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modeling

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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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mirror neurons

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

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prosocial behavior