Unit 6 - Learning AP Psychology

Learning

A relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

Behaviorism

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with part (1) but not with (2).

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

(In classical conditioning) A stimulus that unconditionally naturally and automatically triggers a response

Conditioned Response (CR)

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

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

(In classical conditioning) An originally irrelevant stimulus that after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US) comes to trigger a conditioned response

Acquisition

The initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

(In classical conditioning) the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

Higher-order Conditioning

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

Primary Reinforcer

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

Conditioned Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement (it’s a slow and steady form of acquisition)

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

(In operant conditioning) a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable-Ratio Schedule

(In operant conditioning) a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response after an unpredictable amount of responses.

Law of effect

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Skinner Box

Also known as an Operant Chamber, it is a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer

Fixed-Interval Schedule

(In operant conditioning) a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Variable-Interval Schedule

(In operant conditioning) a schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows; a consequence that reduces or aims to reduce a targeted and undesirable behavior

Operant Behavior

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or weakened if followed by a punisher

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner's term for behavior learned through classical conditioning.

Shaping

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

Reinforcer

(In operant conditioning) any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of one’s environment.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but it is apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Overjustification Effect

The effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do. The person may now see the reward, rather than intrinsic interest, as the motivation for performing the task.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior

Intrinsic Motivation

A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

Extrinsic Motivation

A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment

Mirror Neurons

Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or seeing others perform certain actions or observing another do so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy.