Introduction to Learning: Classical, Operant, and Observational Conditioning

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts, researchers, and conditioning processes in classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

Learning

A relatively enduring change in behavior or knowledge as a result of experience.

Conditioning

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses.

Classical Conditioning

The basic learning process that involves repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with a response-producing stimulus until the neutral stimulus elicits the same response; it strictly involves reflexes and involuntary movement.

Operant Conditioning

The learning process involving nonreflexive, voluntary movements in which behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences.

Observational Learning

The acquisition of new behaviors by watching and imitating the actions of others.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A natural stimulus that reflexively elicits a response without the need for prior learning (e.g., meat placed in a dog's mouth).

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

An unlearned, reflexive response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating to meat).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A formerly neutral stimulus that acquires the capacity to elicit a reflexive response (e.g., a bell rung before food presentation).

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned, reflexive response to a conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating to a ringing bell alone).

Stimulus Generalization

The occurrence of a learned response not only to the original stimulus but to other, similar stimuli as well.

Stimulus Discrimination

The occurrence of a learned response to a specific stimulus but not to other, similar stimuli.

Higher Order Conditioning

A procedure in which a conditioned stimulus from one learning trial functions as the unconditioned stimulus in a new conditioning trial, allowing a second conditioned stimulus to elicit the conditioned response without ever being directly paired with the original unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction (Classical Conditioning)

The gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of conditioned behavior that occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period without exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Behaviorism

A school of psychology and theoretical viewpoint founded by John Watson emphasizing the scientific study of observable behaviors only, especially as they pertain to learning.

Placebo Response (Drug Responses)

A classically conditioned response where regular drug use leads the user to associate the sight, smell, or taste of the drug with the drug effect.

Conditioned Compensatory Response (CCR)

A classically conditioned response in which stimuli that reliably precede drug administration elicit a physiological reaction opposite to the drug's effects, helping explain tolerance and withdrawal.

Conditioned Taste Aversion

A classically conditioned dislike for and avoidance of a particular food that develops after an organism becomes ill following its consumption; discovered by John Garcia.

Law of Effect

Edward Thorndike's principle stating that responses followed by a "satisfying state of affairs" are strengthened and more likely to recur, whereas responses followed by an "annoying state of affairs" are weakened and less likely to recur.

Operant

B. F. Skinner's term for any active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

An operant conditioning procedure where the presentation or addition of a reinforcing stimulus increases the likelihood of a response.

Negative Reinforcement

An operant conditioning procedure where the removal, avoidance, or escape of an aversive stimulus increases the likelihood of a response.

Positive Punishment

Also called punishment by application; a situation in which an aversive stimulus is presented or added following a behavior to decrease its likelihood.

Negative Punishment

Also called punishment by removal; a situation in which a reinforcing stimulus is taken away following a behavior to decrease its likelihood.

Primary Reinforcer

A stimulus that is inherently and biologically reinforcing for a species, such as food, water, comfort, pain relief, and sexual contact.

Conditioned Reinforcer

Also called a secondary reinforcer; a stimulus that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money).

Learned Helplessness

A phenomenon identified by Seligman in which exposure to inescapable and uncontrollable aversive events produces passive behavior due to the cognitive expectation that one's actions will have no effect on the environment.

Bobo Doll Study

A series of early 1960s experiments conducted by Albert Bandura demonstrating that children learn aggressive behaviors and expectations of reinforcement by watching and imitating models.

Mirror Neurons

A type of neuron identified by Giacomo Rizzolatti that activates both when an action is performed and when that same action is perceived in another organism.