Psychology of Learning - Chapter 5 Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the 'Psychology of Learning, Chapter 5' lecture notes, including classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and other learning theories.

Learning

The process by which experience results in a relatively permanent change in behavior.

Behaviorists

The field of psychology that focuses on how experience results in changes in behavior, emphasizing observable behaviors and environmental stimuli.

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning where the 'power' of a natural reflex gets 'stolen' by a new (previously neutral) stimulus with which it is paired. Based on the work of Ivan Pavlov.

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who discovered classical conditioning by accident while studying digestion, receiving the Nobel Prize in science for his discovery.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning (e.g., food).

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., drooling to food).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response (e.g., sound of a bell).

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (e.g., drooling to the sound of a bell).

Systematic Desensitization

A treatment method used to treat fears, often by gradually exposing an individual to the feared stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques.

Extinction (Classical Conditioning)

Breaking the association between the Unconditioned Stimulus and the Conditioned Stimulus, by presenting the Conditioned Stimulus alone, again and again, until it no longer triggers a Conditioned Response.

Preparedness

The idea that certain stimuli work better (or worse) as conditioned stimuli, depending on the situation, often influenced by evolutionary wiring.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behaviors are learned to actively work in an environment to either get something good (pleasant) or avoid something bad (unpleasant).

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the frequency of a behavior in the future.

Punishment

A consequence that reduces the frequency of a behavior in the future.

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

States that behaviors consistently reinforced will be 'stamped in,' and behaviors consistently punished will be 'stamped out'.

Positive Reinforcement

Increases behavior by adding something good (e.g., praise).

Negative Reinforcement

Increases behavior by taking away something bad (e.g., taking aspirin for a headache to remove pain).

Positive Punishment

Decreases behavior by adding something bad (e.g., pain or a scolding).

Negative Punishment

Decreases behavior by taking away something good (e.g., paying a fine, losing privileges).

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned association, usually with some change in the environment.

Generalization

When a conditioned association is spread to other similar situations, applying to both classical and operant conditioning.

Discrimination

Narrowing a conditioned association to only relevant situations, teaching an individual to respond only to specific stimuli.

Primary Reinforcers

Inherently rewarding stimuli that need no training to find them reinforcing (e.g., food, water, social connection).

Secondary Reinforcers

Stimuli that are not reinforcing in and of themselves, but become reinforcing through association with primary reinforcers (e.g., money).

Insight Learning

A type of learning that occurs suddenly and 'all at once' (an 'a-ha!' moment), rather than slowly and gradually through trial and error.

Latent Learning

Hidden learning that occurs without immediate behavioral changes and may only become evident when there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Observational Learning

Learning by watching others and observing the consequences of their actions, without necessarily performing the behavior oneself.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Seeing someone else receive a positive consequence for a behavior, which leads an observer to maintain or increase their own similar behavior.

Vicarious Punishment

Seeing someone else receive a negative consequence for a behavior, which leads an observer to reduce or stop their own similar behavior.

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which an organism learns to behave helplessly, failing to respond even when opportunities for relief are available, typically after experiencing inescapable adverse events.