Untitled Flashcards Set

Learning

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors due to experience.

Association

Our minds naturally connect events that occur in sequence.

Non-Associative Learning

Learning that involves a decrease in response to a stimulus with repeated exposure, known as habituation.

Habituation

An organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Originally a neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior conditioning.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become conditioned.

Acquisition

The initial stage in classical conditioning, when one links a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause, following extinction.

Stimulus Generalization

The tendency for a new stimulus that resembles the conditioned stimulus to elicit the conditioned response.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli so that only the conditioned stimulus elicits the conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

The process by which the consequences of a behavior influence the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Positive Reinforcement

A stimulus that follows a response and increases the likelihood of that response occurring again.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus that increases the likelihood of a response occurring again.

Punishment

The process by which a stimulus or event decreases the probability of a behavior recurring.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that delivers a reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that delivers reinforcement after unpredictable numbers of responses.

Fixed Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after a specific amount of time has passed.

Variable Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after unpredictable amounts of time.

Cognitive Processes

Mental processes that influence how we learn and condition responses.

Learned Helplessness

The hopelessness experienced when an animal or human learns they cannot avoid repeated aversive events.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by observing the behaviors of others.

Modeling

The process of learning behaviors through the observation and imitation of others.

Vicarious Learning

Learning that occurs by seeing the consequences of another person's behavior.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire when an individual observes someone else performing an action.

Positive Observational Learning

Learning that occurs through the observation of positive and constructive behaviors.

Intrinsic Motivation

The desire to perform a behavior for its own sake.

Extrinsic Motivation

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

Overjustification Effect

When intrinsic motivation decreases due to extrinsic rewards.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment, developed through exploration.

Self-Efficacy

A person's belief in their ability to succeed in a particular situation.

Antisocial Behavior

Negative, destructive, and unhelpful behavior.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, constructive, and helpful behavior.