3.12 The Behavioral Model Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering important terms and definitions about classical and operant conditioning.

neutral stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that does not naturally generate a reaction from the animal or person.

unconditioned stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally generates a reaction from an organism, usually a reflexive reaction.

unconditioned response (UCR)

A natural and expected reaction to an unlearned stimulus, such as dogs salivating to food.

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that has become a learned stimulus through the process of classical conditioning.

conditioned response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus, now a conditioned stimulus.

stimulus generalization

A learned reaction where the organism expands the conditioned stimulus to include related or similar stimuli.

law of effect

A principle stating that behaviors that result in a satisfying effect are more likely to occur again.

operant behavior

A behavior voluntarily emitted by an organism in response to its environment.

reinforcement/reinforcer

A consequence of an operant behavior that increases the frequency of its occurrence in the future.

punishment/punisher

A consequence of an operant behavior that decreases the frequency of that behavior in the future.

extinction

The process by which a previously learned association is weakened to the point that it no longer regularly occurs.

spontaneous recovery

Following a period of extinction, exposure to the original stimulus may cause the behavior to occur again.

observational learning

A process of vicarious learning that occurs through the observation of others and their behavior consequences.

latent learning

A form of learning that occurs through observation and experience but is not manifested until there is motivation.