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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
