Psychology Ch.6
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42 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 learning | a relatively permanent behavior change due to experience. |
| 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) |
| stimulus | any event or situation that evokes a response. |
| cognitive learning | the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, watching others, or through language. |
| classical conditioning | a type of learning in which we learn to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events |
| neutral stimulus | in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning. |
| unconditioned response | in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth). |
| unconditioned stimulus | in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR) |
| conditioned response | in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now ___) ____ (CS) |
| conditioned stimulus | in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR) |
| acquisition | (1) 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. (2) In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response |
| extinction | 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) |
| spontaneous recovery | the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. |
| generalization | in classical conditioning, the tendency, after conditioning, to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus. |
| discrimination | (1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli. (2) unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members. |
| operant conditioning | a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. |
| operant chamber | a box (also known as a Skinner box) with an attached recording device to track the rate at which an animal presses the box's bar to obtain a reinforcer. Used in operant conditioning research. |
| reinforcement | in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows. |
| shaping | an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide actions closer and closer toward a desired behavior. |
| positive reinforcement | increases behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is anything that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. |
| negative reinforcement | increases behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A ___ ___ is anything that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: ___ ___ is not punishment.) |
| primary reinforcer | an event that is innately reinforcing, often by satisfying a biological need. |
| conditioned reinforcer | (also known as secondary ____) an event that gains its reinforcing power through its link with a primary ___ |
| reinforcement schedule | a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced. |
| continuous reinforcement | reinforcing a desired response every time it occurs |
| partial (intermittent) reinforcement | reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement. |
| fixed-ratio schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. |
| variable-ratio schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses. |
| fixed-interval schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed. |
| variable-interval schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. |
| punishment | an event that decreases the behavior it follows. |
| respondent behavior | behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus |
| operant behavior | behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences. |
| 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) |
| cognitive map | a mental image of the layout of one's environment |
| latent learning | learning that is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. |
| intrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake. |
| extrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior to gain a reward or avoid a punishment. |
| observational learning | learning by observing others |
| modeling | the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. |
| mirror neuron | neuron that fires when we perform certain actions and when we observe others performing those actions; neural basis for imitation and observational learning. |
| prosocial behavior | positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior. |
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