Learning and Behavior – Key Vocabulary

These vocabulary flashcards cover major behavioral and cognitive learning concepts discussed in the lecture, including punishment, reinforcement, modeling, phobias, BST, latent learning, and insight learning.

Punishment

Any consequence that follows a behavior and decreases the future rate of that behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus (e.g., spanking) after a response to reduce the likelihood of that response.

Negative Reinforcement

Removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior (e.g., escaping fear).

Conditioned Punisher

A previously neutral stimulus that acquires punishing properties through association with another punisher (e.g., a parent who often spanks).

Spanking

A form of positive punishment involving striking a child; associated with side-effects like fear, aggression, and modeling of violence.

Aggression (elicited)

Hostile behavior that can arise in response to aversive stimuli such as physical punishment.

Escape Conditioning

Learning to perform a behavior that ends an ongoing aversive stimulus (reinforced by relief).

Avoidance Conditioning

Learning to perform a behavior that prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring, thereby reducing fear.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through temporal pairing of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus elicits a conditioned response.

One-Trial Learning

A powerful form of classical conditioning in which a single pairing produces a lasting association (e.g., cave entrapment leading to lifelong claustrophobia).

Phobia

An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation maintained by escape and avoidance conditioning.

Reinforcement

Any consequence that follows a behavior and increases the future rate of that behavior.

Observational Learning (Modeling)

Learning new behaviors or inhibiting old ones by watching the actions and consequences experienced by others.

Live Model

A real person observed directly performing a behavior (e.g., parents, peers).

Video Model

A behavior demonstrated via film, television, or online media that observers can imitate.

Story or Symbolic Model

A written or fictional portrayal that provides a behavioral example (e.g., biographies, novels).

High-Status Model

An admired or celebrity figure whose behavior observers are more likely to imitate.

Similarity of Model

The degree to which an observer perceives the model as like themselves, increasing imitation likelihood.

Behavioral Skills Training (BST)

A teaching package of instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback used to develop new skills (e.g., job-interview practice).

Rehearsal (BST)

The practice phase where learners actively perform the target behavior during training.

Self-Evaluation

A learner’s own assessment of performance, used in BST before receiving external feedback.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without obvious reinforcement and is not immediately demonstrated in behavior.

Insight Learning

A sudden realization of a problem’s solution achieved through cognitive restructuring rather than trial-and-error.

Bobo Doll Study

Bandura’s experiment showing that children imitate aggressive acts modeled by adults toward an inflatable doll.

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program

Evidence-based training that teaches parents to use reinforcement and other non-violent methods instead of corporal punishment.