AP psych 1

Behavioral perspective

The view that behavior is learned through conditioning and interactions with the environment.

Associative learning

Learning that certain events, stimuli, or behaviors are connected or occur together.

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which an organism learns to associate two stimuli, causing a previously neutral stimulus to produce a response.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a repeated stimulus that becomes familiar and is no longer considered important.

Unconditioned stimulus (US/UCS)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning.

Unconditioned response (UR)

An automatic, unlearned response that naturally occurs after an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, produces a learned response.

Conditioned response (CR)

A learned response that occurs when a conditioned stimulus is presented.

Acquisition

The initial stage of classical conditioning when an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus is formed.

Extinction (Classical Conditioning)

The gradual weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli.

Higher-order conditioning

A form of conditioning in which a new neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus by being associated with an existing conditioned stimulus.

Biological preparedness

The natural tendency of an organism to learn certain associations more easily because of its biological makeup.

Taste aversion

A learned avoidance of a particular food or drink after it has been associated with illness.

One-trial conditioning

Learning an association after only one experience or pairing of a stimulus and an outcome.

Operant conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by its consequences.

Law of effect

The principle that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Shaping

A method of teaching behavior by reinforcing successive steps that gradually approach the desired behavior.

Positive reinforcement

Increasing a behavior by adding a desirable or rewarding stimulus after the behavior.

Negative reinforcement

Increasing a behavior by removing an unpleasant or unwanted stimulus after the behavior.

Positive punishment

Decreasing a behavior by adding an unpleasant or unwanted consequence.

Negative punishment

Decreasing a behavior by taking away a desirable stimulus or privilege.

Primary reinforcers

Naturally rewarding stimuli that satisfy basic biological needs and do not require learning.

Secondary reinforcers

Learned rewards that become reinforcing because they are associated with primary reinforcers or other rewards.

Reinforcement schedules

Rules that determine how often and under what conditions a behavior will be reinforced.

Continuous reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs.

Partial reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced only some of the time.

Fixed-interval schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a set amount of time has passed.

Fixed-ratio schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which reinforcement is provided after a set number of responses.

Variable-interval schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which reinforcement is provided after unpredictable amounts of time.

Variable-ratio schedule

A reinforcement schedule in which reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable number of responses.

Cognitive learning

Learning that occurs through mental processes such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and problem-solving.

Cognitive map

A mental representation of the layout or organization of a physical environment.

Latent learning

Learning that occurs without obvious reinforcement but becomes apparent when there is a reason or opportunity to use it.

Insight learning

Learning that occurs when a solution to a problem is suddenly understood rather than gradually learned through trial and error.

Learned helplessness

A condition in which repeated experiences of having little or no control cause a person or animal to stop trying to change the situation.

Social learning

Learning that occurs by observing and imitating the behaviors of other people.

Mirror neurons

Neurons that become active when an individual performs an action or observes another person performing a similar action.

Vicarious learning

Learning by observing another person's behavior and the consequences that follow that behavior.