Learning

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally produces a response without learning.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

The automatic, natural response to a UCS.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that initially produces no relevant response.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with a UCS, triggers a learned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a CS.

Acquisition

Learning the CS–CR association.

Extinction

CR weakens/disappears when CS is repeatedly presented without UCS.

Spontaneous Recovery

Extinguished CR reappears after a delay.

Stimulus Generalisation

Similar stimuli trigger the CR.

Stimulus Discrimination

Ability to distinguish the original CS from similar stimuli.

Renewal Effect

Extinguished CR returns when the individual returns to the original learning environment.

Forward Conditioning

Conditioning is usually strongest when the CS occurs shortly before the UCS.

Habituation

Reduced response after repeated exposure to a harmless stimulus.

Sensitisation

Increased responsiveness after repeated exposure, especially to threatening stimuli.

Little Albert

An experiment that demonstrated that emotional responses such as fear can be classically conditioned.

Flooding

Immediate exposure to the most feared stimulus in therapy.

Taste Aversion (Garcia Effect)

Can develop after a single CS–UCS pairing, helping organisms avoid foods that previously caused illness.

Law of Effect

Behaviours followed by satisfying consequences are strengthened; those followed by unsatisfying consequences are weakened.

Reinforcement

Increases a behaviour.

Punishment

Decreases a behaviour.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behaviour.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcement every time the behaviour occurs; best for learning new behaviours.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcement occurs only sometimes; slower learning but greater resistance to extinction.

Behaviour Modification

Systematic use of learning principles to change behaviour.

Token Economy

Desired behaviours are rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged for rewards.

Learned Helplessness

Belief that one cannot control or escape negative events, leading to reduced motivation.

Observational Learning

Learning by watching others, requiring attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.

Vicarious Learning

Learning from observing the consequences experienced by others.

Perceived Control

Expectations about whether behaviour will influence outcomes.

Exam Summary

Includes key concepts and differences between classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.