3.7-3.9 Psych Vocab

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association between two stimuli.

Acquisition

The initial learning phase when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

An automatic, unlearned response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Extinction

The diminishing 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 extinction.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond to them differently.

Generalization

Responding similarly to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Higher-Order Conditioning

When a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus through association with another conditioned stimulus.

Counter-Conditioning

The process of associating a positive response with a stimulus that previously triggered a negative response.

One-Trial Conditioning

Learning that occurs after just one pairing of a stimulus and response.

Biological Preparedness

The idea that organisms are naturally inclined to form certain associations more easily than others.

Habituation

Decreasing response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Behavioral Perspective (Behaviorism)

Focus on observable behavior and the influence of the environment.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together, such as linking a stimulus with a response.

Learning

A lasting change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.

Cognitive Learning

Learning that involves mental processes like thinking, understanding, and remembering.

Stimulus

Any event or object that triggers a response.

Respondent Behavior

Automatic behavior triggered by a stimulus.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that is influenced by consequences (rewards or punishments).

Neutral Stimuli (NS)

A stimulus that does not initially trigger a response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment.

The Law of Effect

The principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to occur.

Reinforcement

Any consequence that strengthens a behavior or increases the likelihood of its occurrence.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, often through the application of an unpleasant outcome or the removal of a pleasant stimulus.

Positive Reinforcement

A stimulus that, when presented after a behavior, increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Positive Punishment

The application of an unpleasant stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a pleasant stimulus following a behavior, which decreases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Primary Reinforcers

Stimuli that satisfy basic biological needs, such as food and water.

Secondary Reinforcers

Stimuli that acquire their reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers, like money or praise.

Reinforcement Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between stimuli that signal reinforcement and those that do not, leading to selective responding.

Reinforcement Generalization

The tendency to respond similarly to different stimuli that are associated with reinforcement, leading to a broader range of responses.

Shaping

A method used in operant conditioning to guide behavior toward a desired goal by reinforcing successive approximations of the target behavior.

Indistinctive Drift

The phenomenon where an animal's innate behaviors interfere with the learning of a new behavior, resulting in a return to instinctual patterns.

Learned Helplessness

A psychological condition where an individual learns to feel powerless and unable to change their situation after experiencing repeated failures or adverse events.

Continuous Reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement where a reward is provided after every occurrence of the desired behavior, leading to rapid learning.

Partial Reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement where a reward is provided after some, but not all, occurrences of the desired behavior, leading to slower learning but greater resistance to extinction.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reward is given after a specific amount of time has passed since the last reward, encouraging behavior at regular intervals.

Variable-Interval Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reward is given after varying amounts of time have passed, promoting steady behavior without predictable timing.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a reward is provided after a specific number of responses or behaviors, encouraging high rates of response.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that delivers rewards after a set duration of time has passed, motivating consistent behavior at designated intervals.

Social Learning Theory

A theory that posits that people learn behaviors through observation, imitation, and modeling of others, emphasizing the role of social influence in learning.

Vicarious Conditioning

A learning process where an individual learns to associate a response with a stimulus by observing someone else being reinforced or punished for that response.

Model

An individual whose behavior is observed and imitated by others, serving as an example for learning through social influence.

Insight Learning

A type of learning that occurs when an individual suddenly realizes how to solve a problem without trial-and-error, often described as a "light bulb" moment.

Latent Learning

A form of learning that occurs without reinforcement and is not immediately reflected in behavior, often demonstrated when an individual later utilizes knowledge that was previously acquired.

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of spatial layouts that help individuals navigate and understand their environment.