U3b In-Class Notes

Association

The process by which two events are connected in our minds.

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally provokes a reflexive response without prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

The natural reflexive response that occurs in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

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

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

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

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not elicit the conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behavior is modified by consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a stimulus following a desired behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior in the future.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus following a desired behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus in response to a behavior to decrease that behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

First-Order Conditioning

The initial phase of conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus.

Second-Order Conditioning

Using a previously conditioned stimulus to condition a new stimulus.

Learned Taste Aversion

A strong association formed between a food and illness, even when the two are separated in time.

Premack Principle

The idea that more preferred activities can be used to reinforce less preferred activities.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction.

Extinction

The process through which a conditioned response diminishes and eventually disappears when it is no longer reinforced.

Timing Matters

The effectiveness of conditioning can depend on the timing of the presentation of the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus.

BF Skinner

Psychologist known for his work on operant conditioning and behaviorism, emphasizing the role of reinforcement in learning.

Skinner's Experiment

Skinner demonstrated positive reinforcement through his experiments with rats in a maze, showing that rewards could lead to faster learning and problem-solving.

Skinner's Pigeon Experiment

In this experiment, pigeons were placed in a box where they had to peck a lever to receive food, illustrating reinforcement and shaping behavior through rewards.

Edward Thorndike

Known for the Law of Effect, which states that responses followed by satisfying consequences become more likely to occur, while those followed by unpleasant consequences become less likely.

Ivan Pavlov

Developed the concept of classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs and their salivary responses to stimuli.

Albert Bandura

Conducted the Bobo doll experiment, demonstrating observational learning and how behavior can be influenced by the observation of others.

Edward Tolman

Known for his experiments with rats in a maze, illustrating latent learning and cognitive maps, showing that learning can occur without reinforcement.

Wolfgang Kohler

Explored insight learning through his experiments with chimpanzees, demonstrating that animals can exhibit sudden understanding to solve complex tasks.

John B. Watson

Conducted the Little Albert experiment, demonstrating that emotional responses could be conditioned.