Psychology: Emotion and Motivation

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially produces no specific response other than focusing attention.

Unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior conditioning.

Unconditioned Response

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation in response to food.

Conditioned stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus after it has been associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of rest and without new learning, following extinction.

Garcia affect

Taste aversions

Reinforcement

Increases or strengthens a behavior

Positive Reinforcement

Gives consequence to strengthen a behavior

Negative reinforcement

Removes a stimulus to strengthen a behavior

Punishment

Decreases the frequency of the behavior

Positive punishment

Gives a consequence to decrease a behavior

Negative Punishment

Removes a stimulus to decrease a behavior

John Watson

Introducing fear

Classical conditioning

Environment acts and you respond

Operant conditioning

You act first and based on consequences the association is reinforced

FIxed interval schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has passed.

Fixed ratio schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after a specified number of responses have been made.

Variable interval schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Variablee Ratio schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable number of responses have been made.