PSY 100-Exam 3 CSU

Learning

the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Associative Learning

learning that certain events occur together

Stimulus

any event or situation that revokes a response

Respondent Behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Operant Behavior

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Cognitive Learning

the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Classical Conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Behaviorism

the view that psychology 1) should be an objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes- most psychologists agree with 1 not 2

Neutral Stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Unconditioned Response

in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (such as food in the mouth)

Unconditioned Stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers an unconditioned response

Conditioned Response

in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to a trigger a conditioned response

Acquisition

in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the 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 response does not follow a conditioned stimulus- 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

Operant Conditioning

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

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

Operant Chamber

in operant conditioning research, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food or water reinforcer-attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking ( skinner box)

Reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Shaping

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

Positive Reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers-any stimulus that when presented strengthens response

Negative Reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli-when removed, it strengthens the response

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 associations with a primary reinforcer

Reinforcement Schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Continous Reinforcement Schedule

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

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

fixed ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a fixed number of responses

variable ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

fixed interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

variable interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

biological constraints

evolved biological tendencies that predispose animals' behaviors and learning. Thus, certain behaviors are more easily learned than others.

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one's environment-after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it

latent learning

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

observational learning

learning by observing others

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so-imitation and empathy

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior-opposite of anti social behavior

memory

persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information

recall

a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill in the blank exam

recognition

a measure of memory in which the person identifies items previously learned, as on a multiple choice test

relearning

a measure of memory that assesses the amount of time save when learning material again

encoding

the processing of information into the memory system-for example, extracting meaning: effortful or automatic

storage

the process of retaining encoded information over time

retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory storage-priming, retrieval cues, context dependent memory, state dependent memory

parallel processing

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; brains natural mode of information processing for many functions

sensory memory

immediate, brief recording of sensory info in the memory system

short term memory

activated memory that holds a few items briefly before it is stored or forgotten: 15-30 seconds

long term memory

the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system-knowledge, skills, and experiences

working memory

a newer understanding of short term memory that adds conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual spatial information, and of information retrieved from long term memory (phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, central executive)

explicit memory

memory of facts and experiences-can declare-consciously aware of

effortful processing

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

automatic processing

unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and frequency, and of well learned information, such as word meanings

implicit memory

retention of learned skills or classically conditioned associations independent of conscious recollection-below conscious awareness

iconic memory

a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli; a photographic or picture-image memory lasting no more than a few tenths of a second

echoic memory

a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds.

chunking

organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.

mnemonics

memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices.

spacing effect

the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice.

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.

shallow processing

encoding on a basic level based on the structure or appearance of words.

deep processing

encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention.

semantic memory

fact based- vocab or general knowledge

episodic memory

auto biographical memory-emotions-travel to episodes and events

hippocampus

limbic system-explicit memories for storage

memory consolidation

neural storage for long term memory

flashbulb memory

a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

long term potentiation

an increase in cell's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation

priming

(implicit)-you experience something without knowledge, but influences your behavior or knowledge later

mood congruent memory

the tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's good or bad mood

serial position effect

tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list

anterograde amnesia

inability to form new memories

retrograde amnesia

an inability to retrieve information from one's past

proactive interference

the forward acting disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information

retroactive interference

the backward-acting disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information

repression

defense mechanism that banishes from conscious anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories

reconsolidation

a process in which a previously stored memories, when retrieved, are potentially altered before being stored again

misinformation effect

when misleading info has corrupted a memory of an event

source amnesia

attributing to the wrong source an event we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined

deja vu

cues from current situation may unconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience

cognition

all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing remembering, and communicating

concept

a mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas or people

prototype

mental image or best example of a category

algorithm

a methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem

heuristic

a simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently

insight

a sudden realization of a problem's solution

confirmation bias

searching for evidence that supports the theory and ignoring evidence that suggests otherwise

mental set

a tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning

availability heuristic

an unconsciously derived estimation of the likelihood of an event occurring based on how readily the event comes to mind-vividness, recency, distinctness

overconfidence

tendency to be more confident than correct

belief perseverance

clinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited

framing

the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly impact decisions and judgement

creativity

ability to produce new and valuable ideas