Learning & Behavior

Learning that occurs when two events are linked together because they happen near each other in time or space

Associative learning

Lasting change in behavior or thinking resulting from experience

Learning

Gaining knowledge that changes behavior, understanding, or motivations, often applied later

Cognitive learning

Person linking the smell of popcorn with going to the movies

Associative learning

Child figuring out how to ride a bike after practicing multiple times

Learning

Understanding how to navigate a new city after studying a map

Cognitive learning

Learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflexive response through repeated pairings

Classical conditioning

Learning where behavior is influenced by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments

Operant learning

Learning that completing study guides and spending more time studying can lead to higher grades

Operant learning

Learning that thunder comes after lightning

Classical conditioning

Learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented

Conditioned response (CR)

Stimulus that does not naturally elicit a response; it can become the conditioned stimulus after repeated pairings with the unconditioned stimulus

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Stimulus that naturally triggers a response

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Previously neutral stimulus that triggers a conditioned response after association with an unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Automatic response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus; the response is innate, not learned

Unconditioned response (UR)

Salivation in response to the sound of the bell without food being present

Conditioned response (CR) in Pavlov's experiment

Sound of the bell after association with food

Conditioned stimulus (CS) in Pavlov's experiment

Salivation in the presence of food

Unconditioned response (UR) in Pavlov's experiment

Food

Unconditioned stimulus (US) in Pavlov's experiment

Sound of the bell before any association took place

Neutral stimulus (NS) in Pavlov's experiment

Startling in response to a loud noise

Unconditioned response (UR)

Feeling fear in response to a light after it has been associated with a shock

Conditioned response (CR)

A loud noise that causes you to startle

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

A light that has been conditioned to predict that a shock is coming

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A light before it has been associated with a shock

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Initial stage of learning when an association between stimuli is being established

Acquisition

Responding to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus

Stimulus generalization

Reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of rest without further conditioning

Spontaneous recovery

Weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone

Extinction

Learning to respond differently to various stimuli based on their differences

Stimulus discrimination

No longer feeling excited when hearing an ice cream truck if it stops bringing ice cream

Extinction

Feeling a sudden pang of anxiety when hearing a dentist's drill years after a painful dental procedure

Spontaneous recovery

Fearing all types of dogs after being bitten by one dog

Stimulus generalization

Fearing only specific breeds of dogs after being bitten by one breed

Stimulus discrimination

Child beginning to clean their room because it results in praise from parents

Acquisition

Gradually teaching a new behavior by rewarding successive approximations toward the desired behavior

Shaping

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

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcer

Innately satisfying reward that fulfills a basic need

Primary reinforcer

Principle stating that behaviors with positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those with negative outcomes are less likely

Law of effect

Consequence that strengthens the likelihood of a behavior being repeated

Reinforcement

Sleep or shelter

Primary reinforcer

Training a dog to roll over by rewarding it for sitting, then lying down, and finally rolling over

Shaping

Principle explaining increased productivity at work due to receiving a raise

Law of effect

Money

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcer

Giving a dog a treat for sitting increases the likelihood that it will sit again

Reinforcement

Introducing an unfavorable outcome after a behavior to decrease its occurrence

Positive punishment

Presenting a favorable outcome after a behavior to increase its occurrence

Positive reinforcement

Removing an unfavorable outcome to increase the likelihood of a behavior

Negative reinforcement

Taking away a favorable outcome to decrease the likelihood of a behavior

Negative punishment

Revoking a teenager's driving privileges for breaking curfew

Negative punishment

Taking pain medication to relieve a headache

Negative reinforcement

Getting a good grade for using good studying techniques

Positive reinforcement

Scolding a child for misbehaving

Positive punishment

Providing a reward after every correct response

Continuous reinforcement

Providing rewards or punishments only some of the time

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Praising a student every time they answer a question correctly

Continuous reinforcement

Praising a student only after taking an exam with multiple questions

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement

Providing a reward after a fixed amount of time has passed

Fixed-interval schedule

Providing a reward after varying amounts of time have passed

Variable-interval schedule

Rewarding behavior after a set number of responses

Fixed-ratio schedule

Rewarding behavior after a varying number of responses

Variable-ratio schedule

Winning on a slot machine

Variable-ratio schedule

Receiving a monthly allowance

Fixed-interval schedule

Getting a bonus for every 100 units produced

Fixed-ratio schedule

Checking your phone for texts or email

Variable-interval schedule

Learning that is not immediately expressed until there is an incentive to do so

Latent learning

Neurons that activate both when performing an action and when observing someone else perform the same action

Mirror neurons

Learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others

Modeling

Learning by watching others

Observational/social learning

Learning the locations of different stores in a mall and using that knowledge to find a specific store

Latent learning

Child copying the way their parent brushes their teeth

Modeling

Feeling pain when seeing someone else get hurt

Mirror neurons

Learning how to cook by watching a cooking video

Observational/social learning