PSY100 Chapter 8

learning

relatively permanent change in behavior or the capacity for behavior due to experience

instincts

inborn pattern of behavior elicited by environmental stimuli; also known as a fixed action pattern

classical conditioning

type of learning in which associations are formed between two stimuli that occur sequentially in time (Pavlov)

operant conditioning

type of learning in which associations are formed between behaviors and their outcomes (Skinner)

habituation

simple form of learning in which reactions to repeated stimuli that are unchanging and harmless decrease

sensitization

increased reaction to many stimuli following exposure to one strong stimulus

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

stimulus that elicits a response without prior experience

Unconditioned response (UCR)

response to an unconditioned stimulus that requires no previous experience

conditioned stimulus (CS)

environmental event whose significance is learned through classical conditioning

conditioned response (CRS)

response learned through classical conditioning

acquisition

development of a learned response

extinction

reduction of a learned response. In classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) no longer follows the conditioned stimulus (CS). In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when the consequence no longer follows the learned behavior

spontaneous recovery

during extinction training, the reappearance of conditioned responses (CRs) after periods of rest

generalization

tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned stimulus (CS)

discrimination

learned ability to distinguish between stimuli

Taste aversion

Biological preparedness -

Rescorla-Wagner model -

higher/second order conditioning

Learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus (CS) also elicit conditioned responses (CRs)

latent inhibition

slower learning that occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is already familiar compared to when the CS is unfamiliar

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

positive reinforcement

increases the probability of a behavior being repeated by the administration of positive/rewarding stimulus

negative reinforcement

increases probability of a behavior being repeated by the removal of a negative/aversive stimulus

positive punishment

decreases probability of a behavior being repeated by the administration of a negative/punishing stimulus

negative punishment

decreases the probability of a behavior being repeated by the removal of a positive/pleasurable stimulus

Primary reinforcer

stimulus that is naturally rewarding, such as food or water

Secondary/conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus, such as a rectangle of paper with numbers on it (money) which has become associated with a primary reinforcer (money buys food, builds power).

premack principle

The concept, developed by David Premack, that a more-preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less-preferred activity. (ex: when parents tell their children to eat dinner first, and then they'll get dessert)

shaping

reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior

partial reinforcement

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

partial reinforcement effect in extinction

more rapid extinction observed following continuous reinforcement compared to that following partial reinforcement

fixed ratio (FR) schedule

schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following a set number of behaviors

fixed interval (FI) schedule

schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a specified interval is reinforced

variable ratio (VR) schedule

schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following some variable number of behaviors

variable interval schedule

schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a varying period is reinforced

Biological constraints

animals have difficult time learning behaviors that are incompatible with innate, adaptive behaviors

instinctive drive

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

Latent learning

Learning that occurs in the absence of reinforcement

Observational learning/social learning theory

Learning that occurs when one organism watches the actions of another organism; also known as social learning or modeling