Unit 6 Modules 26-30

Punishment

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows.

Learning

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

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning).

Cognitive Learning

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

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically-triggers a response.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).

Acquisition

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 strengthen of a reinforced response.

Generalization

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

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or diminished if followed by a punisher.

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by un favorable consequences become less likely.

Reinforcement

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

Shaping

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

Discriminative Stimulus

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement).

Conditioned Reinforcer

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

Reinforcement Schedule

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

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

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

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

Variable-Ratio Schedule

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

Fixed-Interval Schedule

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

Biofeedback

A system for electronically recording amplifying and feeding back information regarding subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a mase, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Insight

A sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Coping

Alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods.

Learned Helplessness

The hopelessness passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.

Self-Control

The ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards.

Observational Learning

Learning y observing others. also called social learning

Mirror Neurons

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when preforming certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation and empathy.

Prosocial Behavior

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

Habituation

An organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it.

Stimulus

Any event or situation that evokes a response.

Behaviorism

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).

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

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

Unconditioned Response (UR)

In classical conditioning, an unlearned naturally occurring response (such as salvation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth).

Conditioned Response (CR)

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

High-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in con conditioning experienced is paired with a new neutral stimulus.

Extinction

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

Spontaneous Recovery

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

Discrimination

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

Operant Chamber

In operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforce; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

Positive Reinforcement

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

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Variable-Interval Schedule

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

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.

Intrinsic Motivation

A desire to preform a behavior effectively for it's own sake.

Extrinsic Motivation

A desire to preform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.

Problem-Focused Coping

Attempting to alleviate stress directly- by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one's stress reaction.

External Locus of Control

The perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate.

Internal Locus of Control

The perception that you control your own fate.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.