AP Psychology 2025-2026 Unit 3 Learning & Development Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the AP Psychology Unit 3 on Learning & Development, aimed at helping students prepare for their exam.

Classical Conditioning

A type of associative learning where an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A learning method based on the consequences of behavior, where behaviors are modified through rewards or punishments.

Behavioral Perspective

An approach in psychology that emphasizes observable behaviors rather than internal processes.

Unconditional Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally elicits a response without prior learning.

Conditional Response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Habituation

A form of non-associative learning where organisms decrease their response to a repeated harmless stimulus.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Taste Aversion

A strong dislike for a food that develops after it has been paired with illness.

Shaping

Reinforcing small steps toward the desired behavior in order to gradually reach the final goal.

Learned Helplessness

A psychological condition where an individual feels powerless to change their circumstances due to repeated negative events.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning that occurs by observing the conditioned responses of others.

Cognitive Map

An internal representation of one's environment that helps in navigation and problem-solving.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for trained animals to revert back to their instinctive behaviors.

Continuous Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule where every correct response is rewarded, leading to rapid acquisition but quick extinction.

Variable-Interval Schedule

An operant conditioning principle where reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable amount of time.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people learn behaviors, attitudes, and emotional responses through observing and imitating others.

Critical Period

A specific time during development when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned.

Imprinting

A form of attachment seen in some animals, where they rapidly learn to recognize and follow the first moving object they see.