PSYCHOLOGY: LEARNING

Classical conditioning (respondent conditioning)

A simple form of learning through repeated association of two different stimuli to produce involuntary responses.

Stimulus

Any event triggering a response from an organism, like food.

Response

A reaction to a stimulus, e.g., salivating in response to food.

Three-stage model of classical conditioning

Before, during, and after conditioning.

Neutral stimulus (NS)

Initially producing no response.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Elicits a natural involuntary response.

Unconditioned response (UCR)

Involuntary response to the UCS.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Initially neutral but triggers a response after association with the UCS.

Conditioned response (CR)

Learned response caused by the CS.

Acquisition

The process of associating NS and UCS to produce an involuntary response.

Extinction

Gradual decrease in response strength when UCS is absent.

Spontaneous recovery

Reappearance of CR after rest following extinction.

Stimulus discrimination

Responding to the original CS only, not similar stimuli.

Stimulus generalization

Similar stimuli to CS evoke similar CR.

Operant conditioning

Learning where behavior consequences determine future likelihood.

Three-Phase-Model

Antecedent (A), behavior (B), consequence (C).

Antecedent (discriminative stimulus)

Preceding stimulus influencing behavior (environmental stimulus)

Behavior

Voluntary action in response to the antecedent.

Consequence

Event after behavior affecting its occurrence.

Reinforcement

Strengthening or increasing response likelihood.

Reinforcer

Stimulus strengthening a response.

Positive reinforcer

Stimulus providing a pleasant consequence.

Positive reinforcement

Applying a positive reinforcer after a desired response.

Negative reinforcer

Unpleasant stimulus removal strengthening a response.

Negative reinforcement

Avoiding an unpleasant stimulus to increase response.

Punishment

Delivering unpleasant consequences to decrease response likelihood.

Positive punishment

Introducing an aversive stimulus to weaken a response.

Negative punishment

Removing a stimulus to decrease response likelihood.

Observational learning

Learning by observing a model's behavior and consequences.

Socio-cognitive approaches to learning

Learning in a social context with cognitive processes.

Model

Individual whose behavior is observed.

Stages of observational learning

Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation, reinforcement.

Intrinsic motivation

Internal drive for performance.

Extrinsic motivation

External factors driving performance.

Types of reinforcement

Self, external, vicarious reinforcement.

Vicarious conditioning

Observing a model's behavior consequences and replicating it.

Vicarious reinforcement

Observing reinforcement of another's behavior to enhance motivation.

Vicarious punishment

Decreasing behavior likelihood after observing punishment.

Social learning theory

Learning through observing and imitating others' behavior.

Systems of knowledge

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learning based on social, physical, and spiritual understandings.

learning

the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, behaviours through experience

behaviourist approach to learning

theories that propose learning occurs by interacting with the external environment