Psych Learning Unit Review

Conditioning

a form of learning in which associations are created between environmental events and behavioral responses

association

process by which two pieces of information from our environment are repeatedly linked so that we begin to connect them in our minds

classical conditioning

a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are paired together repetitively; a previously neutral stimulus, therefore, begins to cause a learned reaction through association

Ivan Pavlov

discovered classical conditioning; trained dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell

B.F. Skinner

Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning by training pigeons and rats through a system of reinforcements / rewards and punishments

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

a stimulus that naturally and automatically (without training/teaching) triggers a response.

unconditioned response (UCR)

the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

neutral stimulus (NS)

a stimulus that produces no particular response before conditioning

conditioned stimulus (CS)

an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS), comes to trigger a conditioned response.

conditioned response (CR)

the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)

positive reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response / behavior by the addition or experiencing of a pleasurable stimulus

negative reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus

positive punishment

adding an unpleasant stimulus to stop or decrease a behavior

negative punishment

the removal or taking away of a stimulus following a behavior in order to stop or decrease a behavior

Reinforcement

any event that strengthens or encourages a behavior it follows

punishment

an event that decreases or discourages a behavior that it follows

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or weakened if followed by a punishment

Skinner Box

used to observe operant conditioning taking place: a chamber constructed to observe long periods of conditioning in small animals such as rats and hamsters

John B. Watson

famous behaviorist that was only concerned with observable behavior; conditioned Little Albert to fear a white rat

Behaviorism

the contemporary school which holds that psychology, as an objective science, should focus on aspects of behavior which are strictly observable and that all behavior can be reduced to our reactions to stimuli in the environment

latent learning

learning that remains hidden until its application becomes useful

learned helplessness

A condition that occurs after a period of negative consequences where the person begins to believe they have no control and withdraws from attempts to change or affect a situation.

modeling/observational learning

learning through observation and imitation of the behavior of other individuals and consequences of that behavior

mimicry

the mindless copying of a behavior; no new learning occurs

Albert Bandura

pioneer in observational learning (AKA social learning), stated that people learn from the actions and mistakes/successes of others; Studies: Bobo Dolls experiment

Bobo doll experiment

grade school students observed an adult play aggressively (yelling & hitting) with an inflatable clown (Bobo); when children were later allowed to play with the Bobo, those children who witnesses this behavior performed the same aggressive actions and improvised new ways of playing aggressively with the Bobo doll