Psychology ch 6
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29 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 (or as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as operant conditioning) |
| stimulus | any event or situation that provokes a response |
| cognitive learning | the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by 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 (NS) | in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning |
| unconditioned response (UR) | in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth) |
| unconditioned stimulus (US) | in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response (UR) |
| conditioned response (CR) | in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (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 | 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) |
| 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 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 respond to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus |
| discrimination | in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli |
| 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 attatched 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 strenghthens the behavior it follows |
| shaping | an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide actions closer and closer towards a desired behavior |
| positive reinforcement | increases behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. Anything that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. |
| negative reinforcement | increases behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. Anything that when removed after a response, strengthens the response. |
| behaviorism | the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not (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 to gain a reward or avoid 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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