AP Psych Exam 2 - Mods 29-30

Biology, Cognition, and Learning + Observational Learning

preparedness

a biological predisposition to learn associations that have survival value

instinctive drift

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

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of an environment

latent learning

learning becomes apparent only when there is incentive to demonstate it

insight

a sudden realization of a problem's solution

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

problem focused coping

attempting to alleviate stress directly

emotion focused coping

alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and tending to emotional needs related to our stress reaction

personal control

our sense of controlling our environment rather than feeling helpless

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation learned when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

external locus of control

the perception that chance or outside forces control our fate

internal locus of control

the perception that we control our own fate

self control

the ability to control impulses and delay short term gratification for longer term rewards

observational learning

learning by observing others (aka social learning)

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that some may fire when performing certain actions or observing another doing so

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. opposite of antisocial behavior