Introduction to General Psychology - Chapter 6: Learning

This set of flashcards provides a comprehensive review of key vocabulary and concepts related to learning, covering various types of learning, conditioning, and influential figures in psychology.

Learning

A change in behavior, resulting from experience.

Non-associative Learning

Learning about a stimulus, such as a sight or a sound, in the external world.

Habituation

When our behavioral response to a stimulus decreases.

Sensitization

When our behavioral response to a stimulus increases.

Associative Learning

Learning the relationship between two pieces of information.

Classical Conditioning

When we learn that a stimulus predicts another stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

When we learn that a behavior leads to a certain outcome.

Observational Learning

Learning or changing a behavior after watching a person engage in that behavior.

Modeling

Displaying a behavior that imitates a previously observed behavior.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning to engage in a behavior or not, after seeing others being rewarded or punished for performing that action.

Behaviorism

A formal learning theory that arose in the early twentieth century.

John Watson

Focused on the environment as the key determinant for learning.

Blank Slate

The concept that the infant is a tabula rasa, meaning a 'blank slate'.

B. F. Skinner

Designed animal experiments to discover the basic rules of learning.

Conditioning

The process of learning associations.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

A response that does not have to be learned, such as a reflex.

Neutral Stimulus

Anything not previously associated with the unconditioned response.

Conditioning Trials

The phase when a neutral stimulus is presented alongside an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A stimulus that elicits a response only after learning has taken place.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A response to a conditioned stimulus; a response that has been learned.

Extinction

A process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

A process in which a previously extinguished response reemerges after the conditioned stimulus is presented again.

Stimulus/Response Pairs

The combination of a stimulus that elicits a reaction and a response that is the reaction to that stimulus.

Conditioned

Learned through experience.

Unconditioned

Not learned through experience; automatic.

Reflexive Response

An automated response not in our control.

Critical Trials

The stage where the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned response has been learned.

Behavioral Response

A response exhibited in reaction to a specific stimulus.

Days of Exposure

The time length over which a response is monitored related to stimuli.

Adaptation to Noise Over Time

The decreased response to a constant stimulus like noise.

Learning Theories

The frameworks that explain how information is processed and acquired.

Influence of Environment

The concept that environmental factors play a critical role in learning.

Pavlov's Experiments

Key studies that demonstrated classical conditioning through dog salivation.

Changes in Behavior

The observable effects of learning experiences.

Automated Responses

Behaviors that occur without conscious thought.

Experience

The knowledge or skill acquired by direct observation or participation.

Learning Outcomes

The effects or changes determined by engaging with learned material.

Cognitive Processes

Mental processes involved in learning and understanding.

Stimulus Generalization

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

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between different stimuli.

Reward System

A mechanism through which learning is reinforced by rewards.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a reward following a desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a desired behavior.

Schedules of Reinforcement

The timing and frequency of rewards or punishments used to influence behavior.

Behavior Modification

The use of learning techniques to change behavior.

Role of Context

The influence of situational factors on learning.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others.

Cues and Signals

External indicators that prompt certain behaviors.

Emotional Learning

The process of acquiring emotional responses through experiences.

Adaptive Behavior

Behaviors that adjust to new challenges or environments.

Skill Acquisition

The process of learning new abilities or tasks.

Attention and Focus

The cognitive process of concentrating on specific stimuli.

Memory and Recall

The processes of storing and retrieving learned information.

Impacts of Learning

The effects that learning experiences have on personal development.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Behavioral Trends

Patterns in behavior observed over time.

Threshold of Awareness

The level of stimulus intensity required for perception.

Learning Style

The preferred way of gaining knowledge or skills.