pt1

These flashcards cover key concepts related to classical conditioning and behaviorism, providing definitions and relevant examples to aid in understanding.

Learning

A change in behaviour or knowledge that happens through experience or practice.

Behavioral Psychology

The study of how people and animals learn and change their behavior based on what they experience or observe.

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian scientist who discovered classical conditioning by studying dogs and their salivation response.

John B. Watson

A behaviorist who believed all behavior is learned through experience and conditioning.

Edward Thorndike

Known for the Law of Effect — behaviors followed by good results are more likely to happen again.

B.F. Skinner

Created operant conditioning — learning through rewards and punishments.

Classical Conditioning

Learning by linking a neutral stimulus to a meaningful one so that both produce the same response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Something that naturally causes a response.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

The natural reaction to the unconditioned stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Something that doesn’t cause a response on its own.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

The neutral stimulus that becomes linked to the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

When the conditioned response fades because the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned one.

Spontaneous Recovery

When a learned response reappears after a break.

Conditioned Emotional Responses

When emotions are learned through classical conditioning.

Classical Conditioning and the Brain

The amygdala (emotion) and cerebellum (learning movement) help form conditioned responses.

Taste Aversion

Avoiding food that made you sick once.

Systematic Desensitization

A therapy that helps people overcome fears by slowly exposing them to what they fear while staying relaxed.