AP Psych module 26 vocab

Learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequences

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which we learn to associate a response (our behavior) and its consequence.

Habituation

an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

Stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

response

An action or change in behavior that occurs as a result of a stimulus.

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

cognitive learning

the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Behaviorism

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Neutral stimulus (NS)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

unconditioned response

In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus

unconditioned stimulus (US)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally,naturally and automatically, triggers a response.

conditioned response (CR)

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral(but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)

conditioned stimulus (CS)

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.

acquisition

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

higher order conditioning

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus

Extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Discrimination

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

sensory adaption

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation