Conditioning and Learning Chapters 3 & 4

Law of similarity

things that are similar are more readily associated

Law of contrast

things that are opposite are readily associated

Law of contiguity

things in close proximity (time and/or space) are readily associated

Law of frequency

how often things are associated determines their level of association

Appetitive

good stimulus (approach response)

Aversive

stimulus that tends to elicit an avoidance/withdrawal response

US revaluation

when exposed to the same US multiple times, the value of the CR changes

Elicited behavior

behavior is drawn out by a proceeding stimulus. Also known as respondent behvaior

Reflex

a relatively simple, involuntary response to a stimulus

Reflex arc

a neural structure that underlies many simple reflexes and consists of a sensory neuron, and interneuron, and a motor neuron

Habituation

a decrease in strength of an elicited response following repeated presentations of a stimulus that naturally elicits that response

Sensitization

an increase in the strength of an elicited response following repeated presentations of the stimulus that naturally elicits that response

Opponent Process Theory

a theory proposing that an emotional event elicits 2 competing processes

a process (primary process) that is directly elicited by the event

b process (opponent process) that is elicited by the a process and serves to counteract the a process

Delayed conditioning

the onset of the NS precedes the onset of the US and the 2 stimuli overlap

Trace conditioning

the onset and offset of the NS precede the onset of the US

Simultaneous conditioning

the onset of the NS and the onset of the US are simultaneous

Backward conditioning

the onset of the NS follows the onset of the US

Fixed action pattern

a fixed sequence of responses elicited by a specific stimulus

Acquisition

the process of developing and strengthening a conditioned response through repeated pairings of an NS with a US

Extinction

the process whereby a CR can be weakened or eliminated when the CS is repeatedly presented in the absence of the US

Spontaneous recovery

the reappearance of a conditioned response to a CS following a rest period after extinction

Disinhibition

the sudden recovery of a conditioned response during an extinction procedure when a novel stimulus is introduced

Stimulus discrimination

the tendency for a response to be elicited more by one stimulus than another

Stimulus generalization

the tendency for a CR to occur in the presence of a stimulus that is similar to the CS

High order conditioning

the process whereby an NS that is associated with a CS (rather than a US) also becomes a CS

Sensory preconditioning

when one stimulus is conditioned as a CS, another stimulus with which it was previously associated can also become a CS

Overshadowing

the phenomenon whereby the more salient member of a compound stimulus is more readily conditioned as a CS and thereby interferes with conditioning of the less salient member

Blocking

the phenomenon whereby the presence of an established CS during conditioning interferes with conditioning of a new CS

Latent inhibition

the phenomenon whereby a familiar stimulus is more difficult to condition as a CS than an unfamiliar (novel) stimulus

Counterconditioning

the procedure whereby a CS that elicits one type of response is associated with an event that elicits an incompatible response

Systematic desensitization

a behavioral treatment for phobias that involves pairing relaxation with a succession of stimuli that elicit increasing levels of fear

Temperament

an individual’s level of emotional reactivity, including how quickly or strongly one reacts to external stimulation

Preparedness

an innate predisposition to learn certain kinds of associations more easily than others

Compensatory response model

a CS that has been repeatedly associated with a primary response (a-process) to a US will eventually come to elicit a compensatory response (b-process)

Incubation

the strengthening of an already established conditioned fear response to an aversive CS as a result of repeated brief exposures to the CS by itself

Preparatory response theory

the purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US

Observational learning

many phobias are acquired when observing fearful reactions in others