Unit 3 terms to focus on

Associative Learning

A learning principle that involves forming connections between stimuli and responses.

Behaviorism

A psychological theory that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned.

Biological Preparedness

The innate predisposition of organisms to learn certain types of associations more easily than others.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of one's physical environment.

Cognitive Learning

A type of learning that involves mental processes and may occur without direct reinforcement.

Conditioned Response

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

Conditioned Stimulus

An originally neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.

Conditioning

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses.

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where every correct response is followed by a reinforcement.

Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond differently.

Discriminative Stimulus

A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement following a particular behavior.

Ecological Systems Theory

A framework for understanding human development by examining the interplay of various environmental systems.

Emerging Adulthood

A developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, typically occurring from ages 18 to 25.

Extinction

The reduction or elimination of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Fixed Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that delivers rewards after a specific number of responses or a fixed time period.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

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

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

A schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Habituation

The process of becoming less responsive to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A type of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus to create a second conditioned stimulus.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for an animal to revert to instinctive behaviors that interfere with the conditioned response.

Interval Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement based on time intervals between reinforcements.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Law of Effect

The principle that responses followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to recur.

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which individuals feel unable to control their environment, leading to passivity.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a stimulus to reduce a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially elicits no response before conditioning.

Observational Learning

Learning by watching others and imitating their behavior.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that employs rewards and punishments for behavior.

Partial/Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that rewards a response only some of the time.

Positive Punishment

The presentation of an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a rewarding stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Primary Reinforcer

A naturally reinforcing stimulus, such as food or water.

Prosocial Behavior

Voluntary behavior intended to benefit others.

Punishment

Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Ratio Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement based on the number of responses.

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens or increases the frequency of a behavior.

Reinforcement Schedule

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

Shaping

A technique in operant conditioning in which successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people can learn through observation and direct experience.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a pause.

Stimulus

Any event or object that elicits a response from an organism.

Superstition

A belief that certain events are causally related to unrelated events.

Taste Aversion

A learned avoidance of a particular food or drink that has been associated with illness.

Unconditioned Response

An automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Variable Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that delivers rewards after an unpredictable number of responses.

Variable Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Variable Ratio Schedule

A schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.