U5 AP Psych: Conditioning and Learning

Learning

The process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Habituation

Repeated stimulation produces waning responsiveness

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together

Events may be two stimulus (as in classical conditioning) or response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

Stimulus

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to same stimulus

Operant Behavior

Behavior that operates on the environment producing a consequence

Cognitive Learning

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli

First stimulus comes to elicit behavior in anticipation of second stimulus

Behaviorism

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behaviors without reference to mental processes

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditions

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers an unconditioned response

Conditioned Response (CR)

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association w/an UCS comes to trigger a CR

Higher-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned 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

Extinction

In classical conditioning, the diminishing of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus doesn’t follow a conditioned stimulus

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance after a pause, of a weakened conditioned response

Generalization

In classical conditioning, the tendency once a response has been conditioned, for stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit response

Discrimination

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that haven’t been associated with a conditioned stimulus

One-Trial Conditioning

The single pairing of stimulus and response will be enough to create an association

New aversion will not be strengthened by further pairings

Taste Aversion

Avoidance of food stimuli that has made us sick in the past

One-Trial Learning

Occurs when the association is acquired through open pairing of the stimulus and response and is not strengthened by further pairings

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher

Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences becomes less likely

Shaping

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

Ex: teaching seal how to bounce ball on its nose

Discriminative Stimulus

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Ex: only doing something if you get $100 than if you get a penny

Positive Reinforcement

Subject is being given something that they like

Positive Punishment

Subject is being given something they dont like

Negative Reinforcement

Subject is having something taken away that they don’t like

Negative Punishment

Subject is having something taken away that they don’t like

Primary Reinforcer

An innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer

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 Schedule

Reinforcing a response only part of the time

Fixed-Ratio

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

Fixed-Interval

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time was elapsed

Variable-Ratio

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

Variable-Interval

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

Instinctive Drift

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed behavior

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but isn’t apparent until there’s an incentive to demonstrate it

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment

Insight Learning

Solving problems through sudden insight

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior

Antisocial Behavior

Negative, destructive, harmful behavior

Modeling

Process of observing and imitating certain behaviors

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning through observing others experiences rewards or punishments for their actions