unit 4 exam vocabulary

latent learning

tolman’s term for a type of learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior.

secondary reinforcement

A stimulus that reinforces a behavior after being associated with a primary reinforcer, such as money or praise.

shaping

The process of gradually guiding behavior toward a desired goal by reinforcing successive approximations of the target behavior.

unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning. (reflexive)

discrimination

responds to a specific stimulus but not to other, similar stimulus

conditioned response

learned response to a conditioned stimulus

learned helplessnes

caused by exposure to inescapable and uncontrollable aversive events produces passive behavior

extiction

the gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of conditioned behavior

fixed-interval schedule

reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcer is delivered for the first response that occurs after a present time interval has elapsed

fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcer is delivered after a fixed number of responses as occuered

unconditioned response

A natural reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without prior learning.

primary reinforcer

A stimulus that is naturally reinforcing, such as food or water, without any prior learning required.

generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, often leading to similar responses.

conditioned stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.

acquisition

the initial stage of classical conditioned during which a response to a neutral stimulus is established and gradually strengthened

reinforcement

The process in which a stimulus increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, often used in operant conditioning.

negative reinforcement

the removal of, avoidance of, escape from an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

variable-interval schedule

the schedule is one in ewhich reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

variable-ratio schedule

a schedule where reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable number of responses.

observational learning

a learning process through which individuals acquire new behaviors by watching others and imitating their actions.

operant

conditioning is a method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior.

positive reinforcement

the addition of a rewarding stimulus following a desired behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

shaping

a process in operant conditioning that involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the final behavior is achieved.

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.