AP Psychology Unit 5 - Learning

acquisition

The initial stage in CC when one links a stimulus and a US so that the NS begins triggering the CR. In OC, the strengthening of a reinforced response

associative learning

Learning that certain events occur together

behavioral perspective

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without references to mental processes

biological preparedness

A biological predisposition to learn associations, such as between taste and nausea, that have survival value

classical conditioning

A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

cognitive map

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment

conditioned response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral (but now learned) stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

An originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with a US, comes to trigger a CR

continuous reinforcement

Rewarding the desired response every time it occurs

counterconditioning

Behavior therapy procedures that use classical conditioning to evoke new responses to stimuli that are triggering unwanted behaviors.

extinction

The diminishing of a CR; occurs in CC when an US does not follow a CS; occurs in OC when a response is no longer reinforced

fixed interval

In OC, reinforces a response at specific period of time

fixed ratio

In OC, reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

habituation

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation.

higher-order conditioning

A procedure in which the CS in one conditioning experience is paired with a new NS, creating a second (often weaker) CS

insight learning

A sudden realization of a problem's solution.

instinctive drift

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns

latent learning

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

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

learned helplessness

The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience

modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

negative reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as a shock. When removed after a response, strengthens the response

Negative punishment

punishment that results by removing something as a consequence of a behavior. For example, taking away car keys for breaking curfew.

neutral stimulus

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

one-trial conditioning/learning

Mastery of a skill after only one trial.

operant conditioning

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

partial reinforcement

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

positive reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. It is any stimulus, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

positive punishment

punishment that results by adding something extra as a consequence of a behavior. For example, having to do the dishes for the next month because you swore at your teacher.

primary reinforcer

An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

punishment

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows

reinforcement

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

reinforcement generalization

in operant conditioning, the appearance of a reinforced behavior in a new context, because of previous reinforcement in a similar context. For example, a child reinforced for using their manners at the dinner table at home may exhibit this behavior at the lunch table at school, even though the behavior was never reinforced there

reinforcement schedules

systematic approaches to administering reinforcements for desired behaviors; they can be dependent on the number of responses made (ratio) or the timing of the responses (interval)

scalloped graph

the pattern that appears on a cumulative response graph when a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule is used; reflects an inconsistent pattern of responding in which the organism only begins making the response as the time for the available reinforcements draws near

secondary reinforcer

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

shaping

An OC procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

social learning theory

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.

spontaneous recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished CR

reinforcement discrimination

In OC, a stimulus that increases the probability of a response because of a previous history of reinforcement in the presence of that stimulus.

stimulus discrimination

In CC, the learned ability to distinguish between a CS and stimuli that do not signal a US

stimulus generalization

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimulus to the CS to elicit similar responses

superstitious behavior

behavior that results from accidental reinforcement of an action so that the organism continues to repeat it; for example, if a rat that turned in a circle before pushing a lever and receiving food, it might continue turning in a circle before each press, even if that is not required for reinforcement to occur

taste aversion

A type of classical conditioning in which a previously desirable or neutral food comes to be perceived as repugnant because it is associated with negative stimulus

unconditioned response (UCR)

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response

variable interval

In OC, reinforces a response at unpredictable periods of time

variable ratio

In OC, reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

vicarious conditioning

Learning the consequences of an action by watching others being rewarded or punished for performing the action