Learning and Conditioning

Learning

Acquiring new and enduring information/behaviors

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together

Stimulus

Event or situation that evokes a response

Respondent Behavior

Automatic response to a stimulus

Operant Behavior

Behavior that operates on the environment

Cognitive Learning

Acquisition of mental information through observation, watching others, or language

Classical Conditioning

Learning by linking two or more stimuli

Behaviorism

Objective science studying behavior without reference to mental processes

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Unlearned response to an unconditioned stimulus

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Stimulus that triggers an unconditioned response

Conditioned Response (CR)

Learned response to a conditioned stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Originally neutral stimulus that triggers a conditioned response

Acquisition

Initial stage of classical conditioning

Higher-order Conditioning

Pairing a conditioned stimulus with a new neutral stimulus

Extinction

Diminishing of a conditioned response

Spontaneous Recovery

Reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization (stimulus generalization)

Tendency for similar stimuli to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

Ability to distinguish between similar stimuli

Operant Conditioning

Learning through reinforcement or punishment

Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely

Operant Chamber (Skinner box)

Chamber with a bar/key for animals to manipulate for reinforcement

Reinforcement

Event that strengthens a behavior

Shaping

Procedure to guide behavior towards desired behavior

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting a pleasurable stimulus

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by removing an aversive stimulus

Primary Reinforcer

Innately reinforcing stimulus

Conditioned Reinforcer (Secondary reinforcer)

Stimulus that gains reinforcing power through association

Reinforcement Schedule

Pattern that defines how often a response will be reinforced

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcing a response after a specified number of responses

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcing a response after an unpredictable number of responses

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforcing a response after a specified time has elapsed

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reinforcing a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

Event that decreases the behavior it follows

Preparedness

Biological predisposition to learn associations with survival value

Instinctive Drift

Reversion of learned behavior to biologically predisposed patterns

Cognitive Map

Mental representation of one's environment

Latent Learning

Learning that is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others

Modeling

Process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Mirror Neurons

Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing or observing certain actions

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior

Desensitization

Diminishing emotional responsiveness through repeated exposure

Social Learning

Learning through observation, peer influence, and cultural influence

Averse Conditioning

Exposure to a stimulus while experiencing discomfort

Air-Crib

Skinner's invention to mechanize childcare with a controlled environment

Teaching Machine

Computer that provides immediate feedback on answers

Chaining Behaviors

Breaking a task into small steps and teaching each step individually

Discriminative Stimulus

Stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing behavior every time it is demonstrated

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing behavior sometimes

Fixed Reinforcement

Reward is given at predictable times

Variable Reinforcement

Reward is given at unpredictable times

Ratio Reinforcement

Reward is based on the number of attempts

Interval Reinforcement

Reward is based on the amount of time

Rescorla Wagner Model

Formal model of Pavlovian conditioning

Habituation

Decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure

Learned Helplessness

Belief that one cannot change a stressful situation

Reinforcer

Something that increases the likelihood of a behavior

Unconditioned

Stimulus causing a response without prior learning

Insight

Understanding of cause and effect within a context

Intrinsic Motivation

Activity done for inherent satisfaction

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation based on external goals or rewards

Biofeedback

Process of changing physiological activity for health and performance

Little Albert Experiment

Demonstration of classical conditioning in humans

Little Albert

Baby classically conditioned to fear a rat

Albert Bandura

Conducted the Bobo doll experiment on modeling

Edward Deci

Researcher on extrinsic rewards undermining intrinsic motivation

Ivan Pavlov

Russian scientist who developed classical conditioning

Rosalie Rayner

Collaborated on the Little Albert experiment

Robert Rescorla

Worked on the Rescorla-Wagner Theory of conditional learning

Richard Ryan

Co-developer of Self-Determination Theory

Giacomo Rizzolatti

Discovered mirror neurons

Martin Seligman

Creator of the Learned Helplessness theory

B.F. Skinner

Psychologist known for operant conditioning and inventions

Edward Thorndike

Created the Law of Effect theory

Edward Tolman

Conducted research on cognitive maps

Allan Wagner

Collaborated on the Rescorla-Wagner Theory of conditional learning

John Watson

Conducted the Little Albert experiment

Kenneth and Mamie Clark

Conducted the doll experiment on racial bias