Chapter 6

Front 1

Learning

Back 1

The process of acquiring, through experience, new and relatively enduring information or behaviors.

Front 2

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 (as in operant conditioning)

Hint 2

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning

Front 3

Stimulus

Back 3

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Hint 3

Caffeine

Front 4

Respondent Behavior

Back 4

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Hint 4

Hyperactive behavior after drinking coffee

Front 5

Operant Behavior

Back 5

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Hint 5

Shivering in cold weather.

Front 6

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Back 6

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that evokes no response before conditioning

Front 7

Classical Conditioning

Back 7

A type of learning in which we learn to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Hint 7

A puff of air making you blink.

Front 8

Cognitive Learning

Back 8

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others or through language

Hint 8

Learning through watching

Front 9

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Back 9

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus (US).

Hint 9

Salivation

Front 10

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Back 10

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers a response (UR)

Hint 10

Food in your mouth

Front 11

Conditioned Response (CR)

Back 11

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

Front 12

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Back 12

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

Front 13

Acquisition

Back 13

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when we link 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 14

Extinction

Back 14

In classical conditioning, the weakening of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning, the weakening of a response when it is no longer reinforced.

Front 15

Spontaneous Recovery

Back 15

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

Front 16

Generalization

Back 16

In classical conditioning, the tendency, after conditioning, to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning, generalization occurs when our responses to similar stimuli are also reinforced.

Front 17

Discrimination

Back 17

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli. In operant conditioning, the ability to distinguish responses that are not reinforced from those that are not.

Front 18

Operant Conditioning

Back 18

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more probable if followed by a reinforcer or if followed by a punisher.

Front 19

Law of Effect

Back 19

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

Front 20

Operant Chamber

Back 20

In operant conditioning research, a chamber (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.

Hint 20

Skinner Box, rats

Front 21

Reinforcement

Back 21

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

Hint 21

Giving a child a cookie for doing good.

Front 22

Shaping

Back 22

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide actions closer and closer toward a desired behavior.

Front 23

Positive Reinforcement

Back 23

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

Front 24

Negative Reinforcement

Back 24

Increases behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as a shock. A negative reinforcer is anything that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. Not a punishment.

Hint 24

Not a punishment.

Front 25

Primary Reinforcer

Back 25

An event that is innately reinforcing, often by satisfying a biological need.

Front 26

Conditioned Reinforcer aka Secondary Reinforcer

Back 26

An event that gains its reinforcing power through its link with a primary reinforcer.

Front 27

Reinforcement Schedule

Back 27

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

Front 28

Continous Reinforcement

Back 28

Reinforcing a desired response every time it occurs.

Front 29

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Back 29

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition but much great resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement

Front 30

Fix-ratio Schedule

Back 30

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

Front 31

Variable-ratio Schedule

Back 31

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

Front 32

Fixed-interval Schedule

Back 32

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

Front 33

Variable-interval Schedule

Back 33

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

Front 34

Punishment

Back 34

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows

Front 35

Biological Constraints

Back 35

Evolved biological tendencies that predispose animals' behavior and learning. Thus certain behaviors are more easily learned than others.

Front 36

Behaviorism

Back 36

The view that psychology:

1. Should be an objective science

2. Studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Most research psychologist today agree with 1. but not 2.

Front 37

Cognitive Map

Back 37

A mental image of the layout of one's environment

Front 38

Latent Learning

Back 38

Learning that is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Front 39

Intrinsic Motivation

Back 39

A desire to perform a behavior well for its own sake.

Front 40

Extrinsic Motivation

Back 40

A desire to perform a behavior to gain a reward or avoid punishment

Front 41

Observational Learning

Back 41

Learning by observing others.

Front 42

Modeling

Back 42

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Front 43

Mirror Neuron

Back 43

A neuron that fires when we perfom certain actions and when we observe others performing those actions, a neutral basis for imitation and observational learning

Front 44

Prosocial Behavior

Back 44

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

Hint 44

Opposite of antisocial behavior