Learning and Conditioning Concepts

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to learning and conditioning, including definitions and examples of classical and operant conditioning, as well as relevant theories and terms.

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.

Learning

Innate behaviors that organisms are born with, helping them adapt to their environment.

Instincts

Motor/neural reactions to a specific stimulus, more simple than instincts.

Reflexes

Process by which we learn to associate stimuli and anticipate events.

Classical Conditioning

Stimulus that elicits a reflexive response naturally.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A natural unlearned reaction to a stimulus.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Stimulus that elicits a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

The behavior caused by the conditioned stimulus after conditioning.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The initial period of learning when an organism acquires the association between a neutral stimulus (NS) and an unconditioned stimulus (US).

Acquisition

Decrease in the conditioned response when the US is no longer presented with the CS.

Extinction

The return of a previously extinguished conditioned response following a rest period.

Spontaneous Recovery

When an organism learns to respond differently to various stimuli that are similar.

Stimulus Discrimination

When an organism demonstrates the conditioned response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

Learning process where behavior is adjusted based on the consequences of the behavior (reinforcement or punishment).

Operant Conditioning

The consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Reinforcement

Adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Innate reinforcer that satisfies a biological need.

Primary Reinforcer

Learned reinforcer that gains its value through association with primary reinforcers.

Secondary Reinforcer

Reinforcement given every time a behavior is displayed.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcement given intermittently, not every time a behavior occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Mental representations of physical locations, demonstrating learning without explicit reinforcement.

Cognitive Maps

Learning that occurs without reinforcement and is not immediately expressed.

Latent Learning