ap psych - unit 4 vocab

koch 22-23

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be 2 stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

acquisition

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links 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

behaviorism

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not (2)

biofeedback

a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle psychological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension

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 one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

conditioned response (cr)

in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

conditioned stimulus (cs)

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (us), comes to trigger a conditioned response

conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; aka a secondary reinforcer

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of ones environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

coping

alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods

discrimination

(1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that don't signal an unconditioned stimulus. (2) in social psychology, unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

discriminative stimulus

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (us) doesn't follow a conditioned stimulus (cs); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

extrinsic motivation

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

emotion-focused coping

attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs relate to one's stress reaction

external locus of control

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate

fixed-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specialized number of responses

fixed-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

generalization

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

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner

higher-order conditioning

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a ton predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone

insight

a sudden realization of a problems solution; contrasts with strategy-based solutions

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

internal locus of control

the perception that you control your own fate

learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

law of effect

thorndikes principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

latent learning

learning that occurs but isn't apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

learned helplessness

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

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brains mirroring of another's action may enable imitation and empathy

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

neural stimulus (ns)

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

negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (negative reinforcement is not punishment)

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

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (aka skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key pecking

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

observational learning

learning by observing others (aka social learning)

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

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

punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

primary reinforcement

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

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus when presented after a response, strengthens the response

problem focused coping

attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior

reinforcement

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

reinforcement schedule

pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

self control

the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards

unconditional 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)

variable-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

variable-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

ivan pavlov

russian physiologist turned psychologist, most well known for his experiments with dogs, first wanting to understand digestive enzymes in dogs and soon uncovering classical conditioning. Won the nobel prize in 1904 for his works.

john b watson

famous for the little albert experiment, which proved classical conditioning. Was a founding voice for behaviorism.

little albert

was an infant who was classically conditioned by John B Watson to be afraid of small white furry animals, and even Santa's beard. He is a great example of classical conditioning.

edward thorndike

famous for his law of effect, which was used as the baseline for B.F. Skinner's behavioral technology.

b.f. skinner

most associated with operant conditioning and created the skinner box. Wanted to understand behavior as a function of environmental histories or reinforcing consequences.

john garcia

uncovered conditioning of taste and sickness. Used rats in his experiments.

robert rescorla

studied classical conditioning and found that subjects can learn the predictability of an event through trials

edward tolman

famous for his studies on behavioral psychology. Studied latent learning, and used rats in mazes to study learning.

albert bandura

did the bobo doll experiment/study which looked at aggression being learned through imitation of others. Thought critically about social learning.