Studied by 5 people
Learning
a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience
Habituation
A basic form of learning is evident when an organism does not respond as strongly or as often to an event following multiple exposures to it.
Stimulus
a signal to which an organism responds
natural stimulus
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
classical conditioning
a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.
unconditioned response
In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.
conditioned stimulus
A previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response.
conditioned response
a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
acquisition
In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
stimulus generalization
the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned stimulus with the conditioned response
stimulus discrimination
ability to respond differently to similar stimuli
Extinction
in classical conditioning, the process of eliminating the previously acquired association of the conditioned stimulus and conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
higher-order conditioning
With repeated pairings of a conditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus, the second neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus as well.
conditioned taste aversion
a form of classical conditioning that occurs when an organism learns to associate the taste of a particular food or drink with illness
adaptive value
the degree to which a trait or behavior helps an organism survive
biological preparedness
the tendency of animals to learn certain associations, such as taste and nausea, with only one or few pairings due to the survival value of the learning
conditioned emotional response
An emotional reaction acquired through classical conditioning; process by which an emotional reaction becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus.
law of effect
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
reinforcers
events, stimuli, and other consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring
Reinforcement
process of increasing the frequency of behaviors with consequences
operant conditioning
learning that occurs when voluntary actions become associated with their consequences
positive reinforcement
the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently presenting something pleasing
negative reinforcement
removal of a stimulus that strengthens the probability of the behavior
primary reinforcer
A reinforcer that satisfies a biological need, such as food, water, physical contact; innate reinforcer.
secondary reinforcer
a reinforcer that does not satisfy a biological need but often fains power through its association with a primary reinforcer
successive approximations
a method that uses reinforcers to condition a series of small steps that gradually approach the target behavior
Shaping
process by which a person observes the behaviors of another organism, providing reinforcers if the organism performs at a required level
instinctive drift
tendency for animals to return to innate behaviors following repeated reinforcement
continuous reinforcement
a schedule of reinforcement in which every occurrence of a particular response is followed by a reinforcer
partial reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement in which target behaviors are reinforced intermittently, not continuously.
partial reinforcement effect
the tendency for a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses to be very resistant to extinction
fixed-ratio schedule
A schedule in which the subject must exhibit a predetermined number of desired behaviors before a reinforcer is given.
variable-ratio schedule
A schedule in which the number of desired behaviors that must occur before a reinforcer is given changes across trials and is based on an average number of behaviors to be reinforced.
fixed-interval schedule
a schedule in which the reinforcer comes after a pre established interval of time; the behavior is only reinforced after the given interval is over
variable-interval schedule
A schedule in which the reinforcer comes after an interval of time goes by, but the length of the interval changes from trial to trial.
punishment
The application of a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring.
positive punishment
addition of something unpleasant
negative punishment
the removal of a stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior's recurring
model
the individual who demonstrates a behavior or whose behavior is imitated
observational learning
learning that occurs through observing and imitating another's behavior
prosocial behaviors
actions that are kind, generous, and beneficial to others
latent learning
Learning that occurs without awareness and regardless of reinforcement, and is not evident until needed.
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of one's environment
Note 
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