Classic and Operant Conditioning defintions

UOA HLTHPYSC112

Classical Conditioning

The learning of a new association between two previously unrelated stimuli.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Any stimulus which naturally elicits a reflexive response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

The response naturally elicited by the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that is able to elicit a particular response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The response elicited by the conditioned stimulus.

Acquisition

Learning phase during which a conditioned response is established, impacted by frequency and timing of stimuli.

Extinction

Gradual reduction and elimination of the CR after the CS is presented repeatedly without the UCS.

Spontaneous recovery

A seemingly extinct CR reappears if the CS is presented again.

Operant conditioning

Learning controlled by the consequences of our behaviour, probability that a behaviour will occur is influenced by the previous consequences of that behaviour.

Punishment

Stimulus which occurs after the behaviour and decreases the likelihood that the behaviour will occur again.

Reinforcement

Stimulus which occurs after the behaviour and increases the likelihood that the behaviour will occur again.

Positive reinforcement

The presentation of a pleasant stimulus after a behaviour.

Negative reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a behaviour.

Positive punishment

The presentation of an unpleasant stimulus after a behaviour.

Negative punishment

The removal of a pleasant stimulus after a behaviour.

Extinction ( Operant conditioning)

The fading out a behaviour when reinforcement of the behaviour stops.

Extinction burst

Initial increase in behaviour following withdrawal of reinforcement.

Stimulus generalisation

Eliciting a response to stimulus which are similar, but not identical, to the original stimulus.

Stimulus discrimination

Displaying a less pronounced response (or no response) to stimuli that differ from the original stimulus.

Continuous reinforcement schedule

Reinforcement occurs after every response (after each time a behaviour is performed).

Intermittent/partial reinforcement schedules

Reinforcement occurs intermittently rather than after every response.

Fixed Ratio

Reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of behavioural responses.

Variable ratio

Reinforcement occurs after variable number of behavioural responses, the average of which is predetermined.

Fixed interval

Reinforcement occurs for the first behavioural response performed following a specified time interval.

Variable interval

Reinforcement occurs for the first behavioural response performed after a variable time interval, the average of which is predetermined.