PSYC 110; Chapter 6: Learning

Learning

a relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience

Habituation

the decrease in response to a stimulus that occurs after repeated presentations of the same stimulus

Classical conditioning

a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to bring about a response after it is paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about that repin

Neutral stimulus

a stimulus that, before conditioning, does not naturally bring about the response of interest

Unconditioned stimulus

naturally brings about a particular response without having been learned

Unconditioned response

natural and needs no training

Conditioned stimulus

a once-neutral stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned response

a response that, after conditioning, follows a previously neutral stimulus

Extinction

a basic learning phenomenon that occurs when a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and disappears

Spontaneous recovery

the reemergence of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest and with no further conditioning

Stimulus generalization

a process in which after a stimulus has been conditioned to produce a particular response, stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus produce the same response

Stimulus discrimination

the process that occurs if 2 stimuli are sufficiently distinct from one another

Operant conditioning

learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened, depending on the response’s favorable or unfavorable consequences

Reinforcement

the process by which a stimulus increases the probability that a preceding behavior will be repeated

Reinforcer

any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding behavior will occur again

Primary reinforcer

satisfies some biological need and works naturally, regardless of previous experience

Secondary reinforcer

becomes reinforcing because of its association with a primary reinforcer

Positive reinforcer

a stimulus added to the environment that brings about an increase in a preceding response

Negative reinforcer

an unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated

Punishment

a stimulus that decreases the probability that a previous behavior will occur again

Positive punishment

weakens a response through the application of an unpleasant stimulus

Negative punishment

weakens a response through the removal of something pleasant

Schedule of reinforcement

the pattern of frequency and timing of reinforcement following desired behavior

Continuous reinforcement schedule

reinforcing of a behavior every time it occurs

Partial reinforcement schedule

reinforcing of a behavior some but not all of the time

Fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcement is given only after a specific number of responses are made

Variable-ratio schedule

reinforcement occurs after an average number of responses, but the reinforcement schedule is unpredictable

Stimulus control training

behavior reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus, but not in its absence

Discriminative stimulus

signals the likelihood that reinforcement will follow a response

Shaping

the process of teaching a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Behavior modification

a technique for promoting the frequency of desirable behaviors and decreasing the incidence of unwanted ones

Cognitive learning theory

an approach to the study of learning that focuses on the thought processes that underlie learning

Latent learning

learning in which a new behavior is not demonstrated until some incentive is provided for displaying it