Exam 2 Textbook Notes - Ch.5

Learning

Learning

Any relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience or practice.

Classical Conditioning

Learning to make an involuntary response to a stimulus other than the original, natural stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that leads to an involuntary response (e.g., food for dogs).

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Involuntary response to the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation to food).

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that has no effect on the response (e.g., dogs not salivating at the sight of food).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A neutral stimulus that triggers a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination

The tendency to stop making a generalized response to a similar stimulus that is not paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a learned response after extinction has occurred.

High-Order Conditioning

A strong conditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, causing the neutral stimulus to become a second conditioned stimulus.

Phobia

An irrational fear response.

Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)

An emotional response that has become classically conditioned to learned stimuli.

Vicarious Conditioning

Classical conditioning of an involuntary response by observing another person's reaction.

Conditioned Taste Aversion

Development of nausea or aversive response to a particular taste due to a previous negative experience.

Operant Conditioning

Learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences.

Law of Effect

Actions followed by pleasurable consequences are likely to be repeated; those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Operant Behavior

Any behavior that is voluntary and not elicited by specific stimuli.

Reinforcement

Any event or stimulus that increases the probability of a response occurring again.

Primary Reinforcer

A reinforcer that fulfills a biological need (e.g., food, water).

Secondary Reinforcer

A reinforcer that is paired with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money).

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a pleasurable stimulus to increase a response.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a response.

Partial Reinforcement Effect

Responses reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses are more resistant to extinction.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcement of every correct response.

Fixed Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is given after a consistent amount of time.

Variable Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is given after varying amounts of time.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A consistent number of responses is required for reinforcement.

Variable Ratio Schedule

The number of responses required for reinforcement varies.

Punishment

An event following a response that makes the response less likely to happen again.

Punishment by Application

Adding something unpleasant to decrease a behavior (e.g., scolding).

Punishment by Removal

Removing a pleasurable stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., grounding).

Shaping

Reinforcing small steps towards an ultimate goal.

Behavior Modification

Using learning techniques to change undesirable behavior and increase desirable behavior.

Token Economy

Using tokens to reinforce behavior, which can be exchanged for desired items or privileges.

Time-Out

A form of punishment by removal where a misbehaving person is isolated from others.

Applied Behavior Analysis

A form of behavior modification that uses analysis and behavioral techniques to address social issues.

Biofeedback

A technique that helps people learn to control involuntary bodily functions.

Latent Learning

Learning that remains hidden until it is useful to apply.

Insight Learning

The sudden perception of relationships among various parts of a problem, allowing for quicker solutions.

Learned Helplessness

The tendency to fail to act to escape a situation due to a history of repeated failures.

Observational Learning

Learning a new behavior by watching the actions of a model.

Bandura and the Bobo Doll

A study demonstrating that children learn aggressive behaviors through observation.

Learning/Performance Distinction

The observation that learning can occur without actual performance of the behavior.

Neurofeedback

a form of biofeedback, specifically used to monitor the brain to modify behavior

Schemas

concept or framework that guides organization & interpretation of information, evolving from experiences and events

Assimilation

trying to understand new things in terms of schemas that they already possess

Accommodation

alter and adjust old schemas to adjust information