Psychology 1A: Conditioning and Learning

Flashcards covering the definitions and processes of Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, and Observational Learning based on Chapter $$6$$ of Psychology 1A.

Learning

A lasting change in behaviour or knowledge due to experience which shapes how we respond to our environment.

Classical Conditioning

A form of learning first described by Ivan Pavlov where a stimulus becomes capable of evoking a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially does not produce any particular response.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned, automatic reaction to the unconditioned stimulus, such as salivation to food.

Stimulus

Any event or behaviour that triggers a response in an organism.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without any prior conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that evokes a response after conditioning, such as a bell after it has been repeatedly paired with food.

Trial

A single presentation of a stimulus or stimulus pair (e.g., food and bell together) in an experiment.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus, such as salivation to the bell.

Acquisition (Classical Conditioning)

The initial learning stage of a new response tendency.

Extinction (Classical Conditioning)

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of non-exposure to the Conditioned Stimulus.

Renewal Effect

The reappearance of an extinguished response.

Stimulus Generalisation

Occurs when an organism responds similarly to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination (Classical Conditioning)

Occurs when an organism does not respond in the same way to a new stimulus that is similar to the original stimulus.

Higher-order Conditioning

A process where a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus.

Evaluative Conditioning

The Shaping of attitudes by increasing the liking of a stimulus through pairing it with positive stimuli, or decreasing it with negative stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

A form of learning described by BF Skinner where voluntary behaviours are controlled by their consequences.

Skinner Box

An experimental chamber used to study operant conditioning in controlled environments.

To Emit

The act of sending forth a voluntary response, such as a rat pressing a lever to receive food.

Reinforcement Contingencies

Rules determining when responses are followed by reinforcers.

Cumulative Recorder

A device creating a graphical record of responses over time.

Acquisition (Operant Conditioning)

The formation of a new response tendency.

Shaping

The reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response.

Extinction (Operant Conditioning)

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a response tendency after reinforcement is stopped.

Resistance to Extinction

Occurs when an organism continues a response after delivery of the reinforcer has been terminated.

Discriminative Stimuli

A cue that signals when a behaviour will be reinforced or not.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to strengthen a response (e.g., candy or praise).

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to strengthen a response (e.g., a seatbelt alarm stopping).

Primary Reinforcers

Inherently reinforcing events that satisfy biological needs and are unlearned.

Secondary Reinforcers

Conditioned reinforcers that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Escape Learning

When an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation.

Avoidance Learning

When an organism acquires a response that prevents some aversive stimulation from occurring.

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behaviour, such as receiving a speeding ticket.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behaviour, such as losing phone privileges.

Continuous Reinforcement

A schedule where every correct response is followed by a reinforcer.

Intermittent Reinforcement

A schedule where only some responses are reinforced, rather than every one.

Fixed-Ratio (FR) Schedule

A schedule where reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses.

Variable-Ratio (VR) Schedule

A schedule where reinforcement occurs after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-Interval (FI) Schedule

A schedule where reinforcement is provided after a set time has elapsed.

Variable-Interval (VI) Schedule

A schedule where reinforcement is given after unpredictable, varying amounts of time have passed.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs when behaviour is influenced by watching others and imitating their actions.

Models

The individuals whom others observe and imitate in observational learning.

Attention

The first process of observational learning, involving focusing on the model's behaviour and its consequences.

Retention

The second process of observational learning, involving storing observed behaviour in memory for later use.

Reproduction

The third process of observational learning, which is the ability to replicate the behaviour.

Motivation

The fourth process of observational learning, which provides the reason to imitate based on expected reward or punishment.

Desensitisation

A phenomenon where exposure to media violence mutes or reduces emotional response to real violence.

Albert Bandura

The researcher who demonstrated through the Bobo Doll experiment that aggression can be learned vicariously through observation.