Psychology of Learning: Classical and Operant Conditioning

Flashcards covering the definitions and key concepts of classical and operant conditioning as discussed in the psychology lecture.

Learning

In psychology, a long-term change in behavior that's based on experience.

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning discovered by Ivan Pavlov where a previously neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a learned response.

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian physiologist who in the 1890's conducted experiments with dogs to demonstrate how they associate a bell with food.

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically causes a response without training, such as the sight and smell of food.

Unconditioned Response

An untrained, natural reaction to a stimulus, such as a dog salivating over steak.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, when paired with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a learned response.

Conditioned Response

A learned behavior that occurs in response to a conditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Also known as instrumental conditioning, this explains how consequences lead to changes in voluntary behavior.

Reinforcers

Components in operant conditioning that make it more likely that a behavior will be repeated.

Punishers

Components in operant conditioning that make it less likely that a behavior will be repeated.

Positive (Conditioning)

In operant conditioning, the addition of a stimulus, such as getting dessert after eating vegetables.

Negative (Conditioning)

In operant conditioning, the removal of a stimulus, such as having a night of no homework because of a good exam score.

Stimulus Generalization

A phenomenon observed in learning where a subject responds to similar stimuli, such as pigeons choosing Impressionists over Cubists after being trained on Monet.