Psychology (Ch. 6)

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together; ‘A’ is associated with ‘B’.

Classical Conditioning

Pavlovian conditioning where a neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Stimulus that naturally elicits a response without prior learning, such as food causing salivation in dogs.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Initially neutral stimulus that, after time, elicits a learned response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Natural response evoked by an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

Response evoked by a conditioned stimulus after conditioning.

Extinction

Decrease in strength or frequency of a learned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer presented after the conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

Reappearance of a weakened conditioned response after a rest period or after extinction.

Generalization

Tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

Ability to distinguish between different conditioned stimuli.

Little Albert Experiment

Study by John Watson and Rosalie Rayner that conditioned a child to fear a white rat using a loud sound.

Systematic Desensitization

Therapeutic process that teaches clients to relax and associate a phobia with a relaxed state.

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Reinforcement

Any consequence that increases or strengthens a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding or presenting something pleasant to increase a behavior, e.g., giving a dog a treat for performing a trick.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant to increase a behavior, e.g., buckling a seatbelt to stop an annoying ding.

Punishment

Any consequence that decreases or weakens a behavior.

Primary Reinforcers

Stimuli that do not have to be learned, such as food and water.

Secondary Reinforcers

Stimuli that must be learned and acquire value through association, such as money.

Immediate Reinforcers

Rewards that are received quickly after a behavior is performed.

Delayed Reinforcers

Rewards that are not received immediately and require a waiting period, such as healthy eating and exercise.