Psychology Ch.7

Front 1

learning

Back 1

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

Front 2

associative learning

Back 2

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be 2 stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning).

Front 3

classical conditioning

Back 3

a type of learning in which 1 learns to link 2 or more stimuli and anticipate events.

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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.

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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

unconditioned stimulus(US)

Back 6

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

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conditioned response(CR)

Back 7

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

Front 8

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.

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acquisition

Back 9

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when 1 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.

Front 10

higher-order conditioning
second-order conditioning

Back 10

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in 1 conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a 2nd(often weaker) conditioned stimulus.

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extinction

Back 11

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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spontaneous recovery

Back 12

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

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generalization

Back 13

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

Front 14

discrimination

Back 14

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

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respondent behavior

Back 15

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Front 16

operant conditioning

Back 16

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

Front 17

operant behavior

Back 17

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Front 18

law of effect

Back 18

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

Front 19

operant chamber

Back 19

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 reat of bar pressing or key pecking.

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shaping

Back 20

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

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reinforcer

Back 21

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

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positive reinforcement

Back 22

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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negative reinforcement

Back 23

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. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment).

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primary reinforcer

Back 24

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as 1 that satisfies a biological need.

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conditioned reinforcer
secondary reinforcer

Back 25

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

Front 26

conditioned reinforcement

Back 26

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

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partial(intermittent)reinforcement

Back 27

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

Back 28

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

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variable-ratio schedule

Back 29

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

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fixed-interval schedule

Back 30

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

Front 31

variable-interval schedule

Back 31

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

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punishment

Back 32

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Front 33

cognitive map

Back 33

a mental representation of the layout of 1's environment. Ex, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it.

Front 34

latent learning

Back 34

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

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intrinsic motivation

Back 35

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.

Front 36

extrinsic motivation

Back 36

a desire to perform a behavior to recieve promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.

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observational learning

Back 37

learning by observing others.

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modeling

Back 38

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

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mirror neurons

Back 39

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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prosocial behavior

Back 40

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