(AP PSYCH) Unit 3: Development and Learning Vocab

WIP (Module 26, 27, 30)

Learning (26)

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

Habituation (26)

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus.

Associative Learning (26)

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequence.

Stimulus (26)

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Respondent Behavior (26)

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Operant Behavior (26)

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Cognitive Learning (26)

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, watching others, or through language.

Classical Conditioning (26)

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus comes to elicit behavior in anticipation of the second stimulus.

Behaviorism (26)

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not (2).

Neural Stimulus (NS) (26)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Unconditioned Response (UR) (26)

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US) (26)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers an unconditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR) (26)

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS) (26)

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Acquisition (26)

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

High-Order Conditioning (26)

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus.

Extinction (26)

The diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus; occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.

Spontaneous Recovery (26)

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Generalization (26)

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Discrimination (26)

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning (27)

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher.

Law of Effect (27)

Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences becomes more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Operant Chamber (27)

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

Reinforcement (27)

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Shaping (27)

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

Discriminative Stimulus (27)

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement (27)

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Negative Reinforcement (27)

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing aversive stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.

Primary Reinforcer (27)

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

Conditioned Reinforcer (27)

A stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.

Reinforcement Schedule (27)

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

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule (27)

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedule (27)

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule (27)

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule (27)

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule (27)

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Variable-Interval Schedule (27)

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Punishment (27)

An event that tends to decrease the behavior it follows.

Observational Learning (30)

Learning by observing others.

Modeling (30)

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Mirror Neurons (30)

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy.

Prosocial Behavior (30)

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.