AP Psychology: Learning Theories

Chapter 5 of AP Psychology, covering Learning Theories

Learning

the process by which experience or practice results in a relatively permanent change in behavior

classical conditioning

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

Desensitization Therapy

a conditioning technique designed to gradually reduce anxiety about a particular object or situation

Phobia

irrational fear

Flooding

technique for treating phobias and other stress disorders in which the person is rapidly and intensely exposed to the fear-provoking situation or object and prevented from making the usual avoidance or escape response

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)

unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning

unconditioned response

In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

neutral stimulus

a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

conditioned stimulus

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

conditioned response

a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

stimulus generalization

the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned stimulus with the conditioned response

stimulus discrimination

a differentiation between two similar stimuli when only one of them is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimulus

Exctinction

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

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

positive reinforcement

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

negative reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

primary reinforcer

a naturally reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

secondary reinforcer

any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars

token economy

an operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats

continous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

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

variable-interval schedule

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

punishment

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

learned helplessness

the tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past

Shaping

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

vicarious learning

learning based on observation of the consequences of others' behavior

Albert Bandura

Psychologist in 1960s, famous child experiment for observational learning with bobo doll. Social cognitive theory

latent learning

learning that remains hidden until its application becomes useful

paycheck at work every two weeks

fixed-interval

dog responds to your commands but not anyone elses

discrimination

slot machine

variable ratio

vending machine

continuous reinforcement

money

secondary reinforcer

show up to work and get paid every 2 weeks

primary reinforcer

conditioned reaction to an association of food with illness

garcia effect

dog responds to anyone who says his name

generalization

football game

variable ratio