Ch 4 Vid 1 Acquisition and Extinction

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

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

Acquisition

The process of developing a conditioned response through repeated pairings of the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening or elimination of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Asymptote

The maximum strength of a conditioned response that can be achieved through training.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction.

Disinhibition

The recovery of a conditioned response during extinction due to the introduction of a novel stimulus.

Extinction Procedure

A process where the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a decrease in the conditioned response.

Inhibitory Conditioning

Learning that occurs when the conditioned stimulus predicts the absence of the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus after conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Reinforcement

Any stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Punishment

Any stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A form of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned response.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of physical locations in one's environment.

Behaviorism

A theoretical perspective that emphasizes observable behaviors over internal mental processes.