psychology ch 5 pt1

These flashcards are designed to help review key concepts related to classical and operant conditioning, covering fundamental definitions and principles.

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

A previously neutral signal that begins to produce a response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?

A new response that occurs because of the association with unconditioned stimuli.

What is Delay Conditioning?

When the conditioned stimulus starts just before and overlaps with the unconditioned stimulus.

What occurs during Stimulus Generalization?

Things that are similar to the conditioned stimulus also produce the conditioned response.

What is Classical Conditioning?

Learning to associate a neutral stimulus with a meaningful stimulus that can elicit a response.

What is Temporal Contiguity?

The principle that stimuli that are closely linked in time are associated with each other.

What does Acquisition refer to in classical conditioning?

The initial stage of learning when a neutral signal is paired with a meaningful signal.

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?

An event that reliably elicits a response without prior learning.

What is an Unconditioned Response (UR)?

An automatic reaction that follows the unconditioned stimulus.

What is a Neutral Stimulus?

A stimulus that does not produce any automatic response initially.

What is Stimulus Extinction?

The breaking of an association occurs when the conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response.

What is Spontaneous Recovery?

When a conditioned response returns after some time has passed without experiencing the conditioned stimulus.

What is Conditioned Taste Aversion?

Learning to avoid a specific food due to a previous unpleasant experience with it.

What is the Law of Effect?

Behaviors with satisfying outcomes are more likely to occur again, while unsatisfying behaviors are less likely.

What is Operant Conditioning?

Learning where behavior is linked to its consequences or reactions from the environment.

What is Reinforcement?

A process that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

What does it mean for reinforcement to be Contiguous and Contingent?

Reinforcement must happen immediately after a behavior and must be understood as the consequence of that behavior.

What is Positive Reinforcement?

Receiving something pleasant to increase the likelihood of repeating a behavior.

What is Negative Reinforcement?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus or avoiding it to make a behavior more likely to recur.

What is Escape Learning?

Engaging in a behavior to escape an unpleasant situation.

What is Avoidance Learning?

Engaging in a behavior to prevent an unpleasant situation from occurring.

What is Punishment in terms of behavior?

A reaction that decreases or eliminates a behavior.