AP Psych: Unit 4 Vocab

associative learning

learner associates a certain response to an object or a stimulus resulting in a positive or negative outcome

Ivan Pavlov

discovered classical conditioning; trained dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell

neutral stimulus

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

unconditioned response

the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the US

unconditioned stimulus

a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response

conditioned response

a learned response to CS

conditioned stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response.

extinction

getting rid of a learned response, but not pairing stimuli

ex. Pavlov rings bell but no drool

spontaneous recovery

random recovery of a response

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus

ex. boy who cried wolf

higher-order conditioning

a procedure in which a new NS is paired with existing CS without needing US

generalization

responding similarly to a range of similar stimuli

discrimination

the tendency to respond differently to stimuli that are similar but not identical

operant conditioning

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

BF Skinner

founder of operant conditioning

John Garcia

found that taste is the most important sense to learning

Operant Chamber (Skinner Box)

a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking. Used in operant conditioning research

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

Edward Thorndike

discovered law of effect

shaping

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

successive approximations

reward behaviors that increasingly resemble desired behavior

primary reinforcer

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

secondary reinforcer

any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars

positive reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the addition or experiencing of a pleasurable stimulus

negative reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus

positive punishment

adding an undesirable stimulus to stop or decrease a behavior

negative punishment

the removal of a desired stimulus to decrease the probability of a behavior's recurring

Albert Bandura

researcher famous for Bobo doll experiment

Observational Learning

learning by observing others

modeling

learning by imitating others; copying behavior

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that mirror others observational actions which allows us to learn by watching

latent learning

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

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one's environment

Edward Tolman

researched rats' use of "cognitive maps"

Bobo The Doll Experiment

nursery school students observed an adult play aggressively (yelling & hitting) with an inflatable clown (Bobo); when children were later allowed to play with the Bobo, those children who witnesses the Bobo doll performed the same aggressive actions and improvised new ways of playing aggressively

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time

fixed ratio schedule

providing a reinforcer after a specific # of responses

ex. you get your 5th coffee free

variable ratio schedule

providing a reinforce after a random number of responses ex. slot machines

fixed-interval schedule

provides a reinforcer after a specific time period has passed ex. $6 tickets every Tues.

variable interval schedule

providing a reinforcer after a random amount of time passes

ex. flash sales on websites