Psych Behaviorism Test

conditioning

process of learning associations

classical conditioning

learn to associate two stimuli and thus anticipate events

operant conditioning

associate a response (our behavior) and it’s consequences and this to repeat acts followed by good results and avoid acts followed by bad results

observational learning

learn from watching others’ experiences/ observing others

associative learning

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

learning

a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience

neutral stimulus (NS)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning (ex. Pavlov’s sound of tone)

behaviorism

the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without references to mental processes

unconditioned response (UR)

in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US) (ex. salivation when food is in the mouth)

unconditioned stimulus (US)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers a response, (ex. the food in mouth stimulus)

conditioned response (CR)

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (ex. salivation in response to a tone) *same as unconditioned response

conditioned stimulus (CS)

in classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (ex. sound of tone)

aquisition

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

higher order conditioning

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second, often weaker, conditioned stimulus (ex. an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone (AKA 2nd order conditioning)

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) doesn’t follow a conditioned stimulus (CS) (i.e if Pavlov kept ringing tone, but wouldn’t give dogs food, so they stop salivating at tone)

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response (i.e if Pavlov let several hours elapse, before sounding tone again, salivation to the tone would appear spontaneously)

generalization

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses (ex. dog conditioned to the sound of one tone also responded somewhat to the sound of a different tone)

discrimination

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus (ex. Pavlov’s dogs learned to respond to the sound of a particular tone and not other tones)

animals can learn

predictability of an event

respondent behavior

classical conditioning forms associations between behavior and involves this behavior (behavior that occurs as an automatic response to the same stimulus) aka salivating to meat powder and later to a tone

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Edward Thorndike’s Law of Effect

behavior followed by favorable consequences become more likely

Operant Chamber/Skinner Box

in operant conditioning, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key pecking

reinforcer

any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food

negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli (when removed, strengthens the response)

primary reinforcer

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

conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that gains it’s reinforcing power through it’s association with a primary reinforcer (AKA secondary reinforcer)

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired behavior every time it occurs

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

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

fixed ratio schedules

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

ex. free coffee after 10 purchased

variable ratio schedule

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

ex. fly fishing and gambling

fixed interval schedule

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

ex. checking frequently for mail as delivery time approaches

variable interval schedule

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

punishment

an event that decreases the behavior it follows

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of ones environment

latent learning

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there’s an incentive to demonstrate, ex. kids learn by watching parents

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior, opposite of antisocial behavior