Unit 4 Learning

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.

Association

The process by which two events or stimuli become linked together in the mind, often through repeated exposure.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure, showing that learning has occurred.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events or stimuli occur together, including classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Stimulus

Any event or object that can trigger a sensory response.

Cognitive Learning

Learning that involves mental processes like attention, memory, and reasoning, beyond simple behavioral responses.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where an organism learns to associate two stimuli, leading to a learned response.

Behaviorism

A theory of learning based on the idea that behaviors are acquired through conditioning.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that initially does not elicit a response but becomes a conditioned stimulus when paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with the unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A form of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The process by which a conditioned response diminishes when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction.

Generalization

The tendency to respond in a similar way to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus.

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences, like rewards and punishments.

Law of Effect

The principle that responses followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Operant Chamber (Skinner Box)

A controlled environment used to study animal behavior and operant conditioning.

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior.

Shaping

The process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus

A stimulus that signals the likelihood that a behavior will be reinforced or punished.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a rewarding stimulus to increase a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Primary Reinforcers

Reinforcers that satisfy basic biological needs.

Conditioned Reinforcers

Stimuli that become reinforcing through association with primary reinforcers.

Reinforcement Schedules

The rules that determine how often a behavior will be reinforced.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the behavior every time it occurs.

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior only some of the time.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement occurs after a random number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement occurs after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Biofeedback

A technique where people learn to control physiological processes through real-time monitoring.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that is influenced by the consequences that follow it.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of an environment.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but is not immediately apparent or demonstrated until a later time.

Insight

A sudden realization or understanding of a problem's solution.

Intrinsic Motivation

The desire to engage in a behavior because it is inherently enjoyable.

Extrinsic Motivation

The desire to engage in a behavior for external rewards or to avoid punishment.

Coping

The process of dealing with stress or difficult situations.

Problem-Focused Coping

Addressing the problem directly to reduce or eliminate stress.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional reactions to stress rather than addressing the problem itself.

Learned Helplessness

A state where individuals believe they have no control over their environment.

External Locus of Control

The belief that external factors control one's destiny.

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that one has control over their own fate and actions.

Self-Control

The ability to control one's emotions, behaviors, and desires.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing and imitating others, without direct reinforcement.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a behavior.

Vicarious Punishment

Learning by observing someone else being punished for a behavior.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Learning by observing someone else being rewarded for a behavior.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else perform the same action.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, helpful behavior that benefits others.

Antisocial Effects

Negative behaviors that can be learned or modeled, such as aggression or selfishness.