Basic Concepts and Classical Conditioning

Learning

Process of acquiring through experience new information or behaviors.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association where certain events occur together and stimuli are associated, leading to automatic responses.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through association between a response and its consequences.

Behaviorism

Objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that unconditionally triggers an unconditioned response.

Acquisition

Initial stage of learning when a neutral stimulus begins triggering a conditioned response.

Extinction

Diminishing of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

Reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a pause.Generalization

Generalization

Tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Discrimination

Learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli.