AP Psychology - Unit 3 Vocabulary - Vocab #4

vocab quiz - 2/3/25

Law of effect

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable (or reinforcing) consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable (or punishing) consequences become less likely

Operant chamber

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking

Reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Shaping

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

Discriminative stimulus

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

Positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus. a positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

Negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing an aversive stimulus. a negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (negative reinforcement is NOT punishment)

Primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

Conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also knows as a secondary reinforcer

Reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Continuous reinforcement schedule

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

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

Fixed-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Fixed-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Variable-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

Instinctive drift

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

Cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. for example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

Latent learning

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

Insight learning

solving problems through sudden insight; contrasts with strategy-based solutions

Observational learning

learning by observing others (also known as social learning)

Modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Mirror neurons

neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. the brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy

Prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. the opposite of antisocial behavior

Antisocial behavior

negative, destructive, harmful behavior. the opposite of prosocial behavior