PS101 - modules 21-23

Instinct

Instinct

unlearned knowledge, involving complex patterns of behavior. More common in lower animals.

Cognitive map

mental picture of the layout of your environment

Flynn effect

observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation.

Learning

the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Associative learning

learning that certain events occur together

Classical conditioning

a type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli

Behaviorism

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Unconditioned response (UR)

an unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditional stimulus (US)

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

a stimulus that unconditionally triggers an unconditioned response (UR)

Conditioned response (CR)

a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (CS)

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

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

Acquisition

the initial stage in classical conditioning, associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus

Extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus

Spontaneous recovery

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

Generalization

the tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Operant Conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminishes if followed by a punisher

Law of effect

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

Operant behavior

behavior that operates in the environment, producing consequences

Operant chamber ("skinner box")

a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer

Shaping behavior

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

Reinforcement

any event that strengthens, or increases the frequency of, a preceding response

Positive reinforcement

strengthens a response by presenting a typically pleasurable stimulus after a response

Negative reinforcement

strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus

Primary reinforcer

an innate reinforcing stimulus, such as a biological need

Conditioned reinforcer

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

Continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time

Fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcing a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable-ratio schedule

reinforcing a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Fixed-interval schedule

reinforcing a response after a specified time has elapsed

Variable-interval schedule

reinforcing a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

Latent learning

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Observational learning

learning by observing others

Modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Mirror neurons

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