CHAP 7 MYERS- dumbasses clearly didnt read this chapter

learning

learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring behaviors

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together. the events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

cognitive learning

the acquisition of mental info, whether by observing events, by observing others, or thru language

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link 2+ stim and anticipate events

behaviorism

the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

neutral stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stim that elicits no response before conditioning

unconditioned responses

in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stim (such as food in the mouth

conditioned response

(classical conditioning) a learned response to a prev. neutral but now conditioned response

conditioned stimulus

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant, that after association, w an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

acquisition

in classical conditioning, the initial stage when one links a neutral stim and an unconditioned stim so that the neutral stim begins triggering the conditioned response. in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response

high order conditioning

a procedure in which the conditioned stim in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stim, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stim

• f ex: an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might learn that a light predicts a tone and begins responding to the light alone (also called second order conditioning)

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response, occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stim doesnt follow a conditioned stim; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

is a suppression rather than elimination

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

generalization

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimuli to elicit similar responses

discrimination

the earned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimuli and a stimuli that dont signal an unconditioned stimulus

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

law of effect

The Law of Effect states that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by negative consequences are less likely to be repeated.

operant chamber

A device used in behavioral experiments to study the effects of rewards and punishments on behavior. It contains a lever or button that an animal can press to receive a reward, such as food, or to avoid a punishment, such as an electric shock.

successive approximations (shaping)

an operant conditioning procedure where you reward responses that are ever closer to the final desired behavior, and you ignore all other responses

reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

pos reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. a pos reinforcer is any stim that when presented after a response, strengthens the response

neg reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing neg stim. a neg reinforcer is any stim that, when removed after a response, strengthens response (IS NOT PUNISHMENT)

ex: You are studying for a test and feel stressed. As soon as you start reviewing your notes, the stress starts to decrease. This encourages you to continue studying, as the removal of stress acts as a negative reinforcement.

primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stim, such as one that satisfies a biological need

conditioned reinforcer

a stim that gains its reinforcing power thru its association w a primary reinforcer; (aka a secondary reinforcer)

continuous reinforcer

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of response but much greater resistance to extinction than continuous reinforcement

fixed ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified # of responses

variable ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable # of responses

fixed interval reinforcement

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time passes

variable interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

punishment

• an event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows (by adding uncomfortable stim)

• tells what not to do

• behavior is suppressed, not forgotten

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stims

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

cognitive maps

a mental map of the layout of ones environment

latent learning

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to display it

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform behavior effectively for its own sake

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised reward or to avoid threatened punishment; can sometimes hinder behaviors people already find rewarding

observational learning

learning by observing others

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior (opposite to antisocial behavior)

How Biology Limits Classical and Operant Conditioning 

• Genetic predispositions can limit classical conditioning

• Genetic predispositions can limit operant conditioning

• Neurological factors can limit classical conditioning

• Neurological factors can limit operant conditioning

• Physiological factors can limit classical conditioning

• Physiological factors can limit operant conditioning

• Hormonal factors can limit classical conditioning

• Hormonal factors can limit operant conditioning