AP Psych Vocab - Unit 5 - Learning

learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

associative learning

learning by connecting events that occur in a sequence

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

habituation

a diminished response to a stimulus with repeated exposure

classical conditioning

the linkage of two or more stimuli and anticipate events; an automatic or involuntary response

operant conditioning

the association between a response and its consequence; the behavior is voluntary, and operates on the environment to produce consequence

cognitive learning

learning done by observing events, watching others, or through language

neutral stimulus

a stimulus that elicits no response before classical conditioning

unconditioned response (UR)

an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus

unconditioned stimulus (US)

a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response

conditioned response (CR)

a learned response to a previously neutral but now conditioned stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

higher order conditioning

the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus to create a second (usually weaker) conditioned stimulus

acquisition

the first stages of learning when a response is established; the period of time when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs over time

spontaneous recovery

when a conditioned response re-appears spontaneously (though is weaker)

generalization

responding in the same way to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus

discrimination

the ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus

law of effect

behaviors followed by a favorable consequence become more likely; behaviors followed by an unfavorable consequence become less likely

reinforcement

any event that strengthens or encourages the behavior it follows

punishment

any event that decreases or discourages the behavior it follows

shaping

reinforcers that gradually guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

discriminative stimulus

a cue that signals availability of reward or punishment, it elicits a response after association with a reinforcement

positive reinforcer

adds something rewarding following a desired behavior, making that behavior more likely to occur again

negative reinforcer

removes something unpleasant that was already in the environment following a desired behavior, making that behavior more likely to occur again

primary reinforcer

an innately satisfying stimulus, requires no learning to work; meets a biological need

conditioned (secondary) reinforcer

learned by being paired with a primary reinforcer

immediate reinforcement

behaviors that immediately precede the reinforcer

delayed reinforcement

delayed gratification; forgoing small immediate reinforcement for a greater reinforcement later

positive punishment

the administration of an aversive stimulus

negative punishment

the withdrawal of a rewarding stimulus

primary punisher

a biological, innately aversive stimulus

secondary punisher

an aversive stimulus learned by being paired with a primary punisher

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment

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

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior in order to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

coping

alleviating stress with emotional, cognitive or behavioral methods

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

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events

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

self-control

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

observational or social learning

learning by observing early in life, without direct experience

modeling

observation and imitation of a specific behavior

Bobo Doll experiment

children exposed to different levels of aggression in a role model; those exposed to the aggressive model were more likely to act in aggressive ways

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform an action or when we observe another person doing so

prosocial behavior

positive, helpful behavior

antisocial behavior

negative behavior

violence-viewing effect

children may learn from violent shows (imitation and desensitization)