Unit 5: Learning

AP psychology unit 5 with Miss Larochelle

learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

habituation

an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

associative learning

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

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

unconditioned response (UR)

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

unconditioned stimulus (US)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response (UR)

conditioned response (CR)

in classical conditioning a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)

conditioned stimulus (CS)

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)

acquisition

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

higher-order conditioning

a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neural stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, 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 (also called second-order conditioning)

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer enforced.

generalization

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

behavioral perspective

Focuses on how our actions and behaviors are influenced by our environment and experiences. Instead of digging into deep thoughts or feelings, it looks at what we do and why we do it.

one-trial conditioning

A specific type of learning in psychology where a lasting behavioral change occurs after just a single pairing of a stimulus with a particular experience. This form of conditioning is particularly effective when the experience is very strong or emotionally impactful.

instinctive drift

A phenomenon in behavioral psychology, observed in the realm of operant conditioning, where an animal's learned behavior "drifts" back toward its instinctual behaviors, interfering with the learned responses.

variable interval

A type of partial reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement.

acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a response is first established.

reinforcement discrimination

A concept related to operant conditioning, where an individual learns to distinguish between situations in which a specific behavior is reinforced versus those in which it is not.

variable interval schedule

A type of partial reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement.

counterconditioning

A therapeutic technique used in psychology to change a person's response to a particular stimulus by associating the stimulus with a new, more desirable behavior or response.

biological preparedness

A concept in psychology that explains why certain associations are learned more quickly and enduringly than others through classical conditioning. It suggests that organisms are biologically pre-wired to easily learn certain behaviors that enhance survival.

superstitious behavior

Refers to actions that are repeated because they are believed, by the individual performing them, to influence future outcomes, even though there is no causal relationship between the behavior and the outcome.

social learning theory

A framework for understanding how people learn new behaviors, attitudes, and values through observing, imitating, and modeling others around them.

stimulus discrimination

A learning process that occurs in classical and operant conditioning. It involves the ability of an organism to distinguish between similar stimuli and respond differently based on their association with a reinforcement or punishment.

reinforcement generalization

A concept in psychology related to operant conditioning, where an individual applies learned behaviors to similar but new situations beyond the original context in which the learning occurred.

taste aversion

A phenomenon in psychology, particularly within the field of classical conditioning. It occurs when an individual associates the taste of a particular food with a negative reaction, leading to a long-lasting aversion to that food.

secondary reinforcers

Also known as conditioned reinforcers, gain their reinforcing power through their association with primary reinforcers. They are not inherently satisfying but become reinforcing through learning and conditioning,

fixed interval

A type of partial reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning where rewards are provided for the first response made after a set amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement.

vicarious conditioning

Also known as observational learning, describes the process of learning behaviors and emotional responses through observing others, rather than through direct experience or reinforcement.

stimulus generalization

A concept in psychology related to how an organism responds to stimuli that are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus used during learning.

fixed interval schedule

A type of partial reinforcement schedule used in operant conditioning where rewards are provided for the first response made after a set amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement.

discrimination

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not 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

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences becoming more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

reinforcement

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

shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

discriminative stimulus

in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. Any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. Any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (Note: not punishment)

primary reinforcer

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

reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

continuous reinforcement

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 that does continuous reinforcement

fixed-ratio schedule

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

variable-ratio schedule

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

punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a mental map of it

latent learning

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

insight

a sudden realization of a problem’s solution

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

external locus of control

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate

internal locus of control

the perception that you control your own fate

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helping behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior