Unit 3b Psychology Vocab Terms

Learning

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

Associative Learning

Learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection between two stimuli or between a behavior and a stimulus.

Stimulus

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

Respondent Behavior

Automatic responses to stimuli; often studied in classical conditioning.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that is influenced by the consequences that follow it, such as rewards or punishments.

Cognitive Learning

Learning that involves mental processes, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving, rather than direct experience.

Classical Conditioning

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

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and the role of the environment in shaping behavior.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially produces no specific response until it is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Response

A natural, automatic reaction to an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation in response to food).

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning (e.g., food).

Conditioned Response

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, evokes a conditioned response.

Acquisition

The initial stage in classical conditioning where the neutral stimulus begins to elicit the conditioned response.

Higher-order conditioning (second-order conditioning)

A process where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The process by which a conditioned response decreases or disappears when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period, following extinction.

Generalization

The tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond differently based on their characteristics.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.

Law of Effect

A principle stating that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Operant Chamber (Skinner Box)

A controlled environment used to study operant conditioning, where an animal can be rewarded for specific behaviors.

Reinforcement

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

Shaping

The process of gradually guiding behavior toward a desired goal by reinforcing successive approximations of the behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a rewarding stimulus following a behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an aversive stimulus following a behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Primary Reinforcer

A naturally reinforcing stimulus, such as food or water, that satisfies a biological need.

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with primary reinforcers (e.g., money).

Reinforcement Schedule

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

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

A schedule where every correct response is reinforced.

Partial Reinforcement Schedule

A schedule where only some responses are reinforced, making behaviors more resistant to extinction.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards after a set number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

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

Fixed-Interval Schedule

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

Variable-Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards at unpredictable time intervals.

Punishment

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

Preparedness

A concept suggesting that organisms are predisposed to learn certain associations more readily than others.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for an animal's innate behaviors to interfere with learned behaviors.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of one's environment, developed through experience and learning.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without immediate reinforcement and is not demonstrated until a reward is available.

Intrinsic Motivation

The drive to perform an activity for its inherent satisfaction or pleasure rather than for a separable consequence.

Extrinsic Motivation

The drive to perform an activity to earn rewards or avoid punishments.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching others and imitating their behavior.

Modeling

The process of learning behaviors by observing and imitating others.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action performed by others, believed to play a role in learning through imitation.

Prosocial Behavior

Voluntary behavior intended to benefit others, such as helping or cooperating.