 | Term | Definition |
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learning |
relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience |
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associative learning |
learning that certain events occur together. Events may be two stimuli (classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (operant conditioning) |
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classical conditioning |
type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli |
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unconditioned response (UR) |
clasical conditioning: unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth |
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unconditioned stimulus |
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers a response |
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conditioned response (CR) |
classical conditioning, learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS) |
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conditioned stimulus (CS) |
in classical conditioning, an originally irrevelant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response |
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acquisition |
initial stage in classical conditioning; phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus; strengthening of a reinforced response in operant conditioning |
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extinction |
diminishing of a conditioned response |
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spontaneous recovery |
reappearance after a pause, of an extinguised conditioned response |
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generalization |
tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses |
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discrimination |
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguise between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus |
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operant conditioning |
type of learning which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher |
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respondent behavior |
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus |
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operant behavior |
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences |
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law of effect |
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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operant chamber |
chamber also known as Skinner's box, containing a bar so an animal can manipulate to obtain food as a reinforcer and used in operant conditioning |
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shaping |
operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior |
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reinforcer |
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows |
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positive reinforcement |
increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli such as food |
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negative reinforcement |
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock |
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primary reinforcer |
in innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need |
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conditioned reinforcer |
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer |
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continuous reinforcement |
reinforcing that desired response every time it occurs |
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partial (intermittent) reinforcement |
reinforcing a response only part of the time |
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fixed-ratio schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specifed number of responses |
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variable-ration schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses |
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variable-interval schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed |
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variable-interval schedule |
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals |
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punishment |
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows |
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cognitive map |
mental representation of the layout of one's environment |
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latent learning |
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it |
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intrinsic motivation |
desire to perform a behavior for its own sake |
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extrinsic motivation |
desire to perform a behavior to promised standards or threats of punishment |
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observational learning |
learning by observing others |
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modeling |
process of observing and imitating a specific behavior |
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mirror neurons |
frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so |
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prosocial behavior |
positive, constructive, helpful behavior |
