Unit 6 - Learning Terms

fuck psych why am i shit

Behaviorism

The school of thought that focuses on *Observable Behaviors* and how they are learned rather than introspection.

Shaping

The process of reinforcing *Each Successive Step* that gets *Closer* to the desired behavior until the behavior is learned (AKA Successive Approximation).

Chaining

A type of *Shaping* where lots of *Individual Behaviors* are shaped and then *Strung* together.

Tabula Rasa

The idea that we are born with a *Blank Slate* and everything we *Do* and *Are* is shaped through interaction with our environment. (Locke)

Operant Conditioning

Learning that focuses on *Connecting Behaviors With Consequences*.

(Thorndike's) Law of Effect

If you do a pleasant behavior and get a *Pleasant Result*, you'll *Do It Again*. If the outcome is unpleasant, you won't.

Instrumental (Learning)

*Thorndike* called *Operant Learning* __________________ Learning.

(BF) Skinner

A Harvard psychologist who conducted thorough tests on pigeons and rats only through *Behaviorism*.

Skinner Box

A controlled environment where *Operant Conditioning* can be studied (AKA - Operant Chamber).

Acquisition

The *Moment* when the learner *Demonstrates* the desired behavior.

Generalization

When the learner applies a behavior in situations *Other Than* the *Taught Situation* to get reinforcement.

Discrimination

When the learner *Only* applies a behavior in the *Taught Situation* and not even in *Similar* situations.

Extinction

When the learner *No Longer* gives the taught behavior in response to the stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

When the learner gives the taught behavior to a stimulus even *After* they have been *Debriefed*/the behavior has become *Extinct*.

Reinforcement

Any consequence in *Operant Condition* where the learner is *More Likely* to *Repeat* the behavior.

Punishment

Any consequence in *Operant Condition* where the learner is *Less Likely* to *Repeat* the behavior.

Positive

In *Operant Conditioning*, a ____________(Positive/Negative) *Consequence* is one where something is *Added*.

Negative

In *Operant Conditioning*, a ____________(Positive/Negative) *Consequence* is one where something is *Subtracted*.

Positive Punishment

The *Consequence* in *Operant Conditioning* where an *Undesirable Stimulus* is *Added*.

Negative Punishment

The *Consequence* in *Operant Conditioning* where an *Desirable Stimulus* is *Subtracted*.

Positive Reinforcement

The *Consequence* in *Operant Conditioning* where an *Desirable Stimulus* is *Added*.

Negative Reinforcement

The *Consequence* in *Operant Conditioning* where an *Undesirable Stimulus* is *Subtracted*.

Corporal (Punishment)

Physical punishment used in schools.

Escape (Learning)

A type of *Negative Reinforcement Learning* that has the learner running away from a *Negative* stimulus *Once They Receive It*.

Avoidance (Learning)

A type of *Negative Reinforcement Learning* that has the learner running away from a *Negative* stimulus *Preemptively* since they have learned that it will come.

Primary (Reinforcer)

A *Reinforcer* that is *Naturally* and *Innately* reinforcing (Ex: Food, Water, Sex, Sleep).

Secondary (Reinforcer)

A *Reinforcer* whose value must be *Learned* (AKA Conditioned Reinforcer).

Token (Economy)

An *Economy* where *tokens (coupons, poker chips...)* are given for *Good Behavior*, which can later be *Traded In* for prizes/desirable reinforcers.

Continuous (Schedule)

A *Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where the consequence is delivered after *Every* instance of the goal behavior.

Intermittent/Partial (Schedule)

A *Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where a learner may have to perform a goal behavior *Multiple Times* or over some *Length of Time* before being reinforced.

Fixed Ratio (Schedule)

A type of *Intermittent Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where reinforcement is delivered after a *Specified Number* of *Desired Responses*.

Variable Ratio (Schedule)

A type of *Intermittent Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where reinforcement is delivered *On Average* a defined number of times (but not necessarily *Exactly* that many times).

Fixed Interval (Schedule)

A type of *Intermittent Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where reinforcement is delivered the *First Time* after a *Specified Amount of Time* has passed.

Variable Interval (Schedule)

A type of *Intermittent Schedule* in *Operant Conditioning* where reinforcement is delivered after some *Interval of Time* that can *Change* from one trial to the next.

Partial

_________________(Partial/Continuous) *Schedules* in *Operant Conditioning* are much more *Resistant* to *Extinction*.

Continuous

Learners learn a behavior *More Rapidly* with a ___________________(Intermittent/Continuous) *Schedule* of *Reinforcement* in *Operant Conditioning*.

Instinctual Drift

The tendency for learners to, when in doubt, *Revert* to *Natural Behaviors* and not those that are learned.

Premack Principle

This states that one should find what is reinforcing for a subject and *Use That* to reinforce *Desired Behaviors* that the subject is *Not Likely* to do *On Their Own*.

Contingency in operant conditioning

This states that in order for the most *Reliable* learning to occur, the *Consequence* must *Reliably* come after the *Behavior*.

Overjustification

The phenomenon where offering an *Extrinsic Reward* for a behavior an individual *Already Enjoys* can reduce their original, *Intrinsic Motivation*.

Operant

*Superstitions* are examples of ______________ *Conditioning* because they have been reinforced.

Classical Conditioning

A form of *Reflexive* learning based on making new *Associations*.

Unconditioned (Stimulus)

A *Naturally* occurring *Stimulus* in *Classical Conditioning*.

Unconditioned (Response)

A *Naturally* occurring *Response* in *Classical Conditioning*.

Conditioned (Stimulus)

A *Learned* stimulus that is often *Paired* with an unconditioned stimulus in *Classical Conditioning*.

Conditioned (Response)

A new, *Learned* response to a *Conditioned Stimulus* in *Classical Conditioning*.

(Ivan) Pavlov

The *Father of Classical Conditioning* who famously classically conditioned *Dogs* to *Salivate* at the sound of a *Metronome*.

John B(.) Watson

The *Father of Behaviorism* who famously performed the *Little Albert* experiment.

(Little) Albert

The *Subject* of John B. Watson's famous experiment with *Phobias*, *Rats*, and *Classical Conditioning*.

Taste Aversion

The *Avoidance* of a certain *Taste* altogether because it was previously paired with an unpleasant stimulus.

Biological Preparedness

The phenomenon where organisms have a *Predisposition* to form certain *Connections* considered to be *Conditioned* because it gives the organism an evolutionary *Advantage* (Ex: Taste Aversion).

Second Order (Conditioning)

The *Classical Conditioning* phenomenon of pairing an *Unknown Conditioned Stimulus* with a *Learned Conditioned Stimulus* to teach a new behavior with *No Innate Stimuli* directly involved.

Cognitive (Learning)

A type of *Learning* that involves *Thinking* and *Mental Processes* (other than Operant and Classical).

Insight (Learning)

A type of *Cognitive Learning* where, when *Considering A Problem*, an organism will *Suddenly* come up with the *Solution* seemingly out of nowhere.

(Wolfgang) Kohler

The 1920's psychologist who observed *Insight Learning* in *Chimps*.

Latent (Learning)

A type of *Cognitive Learning* where a behavior has been *Acquired*, but will not be *Demonstrated* until *Reinforced*/Given some other reason to do so.

Learned Helplessness

A type of *Cognitive Learning* where when one tries to do something and *Continually Fails*, they will quit trying altogether. A lack of *Self Efficacy*.

Social (Learning)

A type of *Learning* that comes from *Watching* others be reinforced for some action, then *Performing* that action *Yourself* (AKA - Observational Learning).

Self Efficacy

The sense that, after watching someone else do something, *You Too* could *Successfully* carry out that act and *Control Its Outcomes* to some extent - Confidence in your abilities.

Modeling

The act of *Showing Some Behavior* that others may learn with respect to *Social Learning*.

(Albert) Bandura

The psychologist who, in 1963, demonstrated *Social Learning* through his famous *Bobo* experiment with children observing adult models.

(Martin) Seligman

The psychologist who coined the term *Learned Helplessness*.

Cognitive Map

A *Mental Representation* of something that can be *Called Up* if there is incentive to do so (Like a map of a rat maze).

(Edward) Tolman

The psychologist who coined the term *Latent Learning* after his experiment involving different *Reinforcement Patterns* across three groups of rats navigating a maze.

Vicarious (Learning)

A type of *Observational Learning* that describes learning through the *Consequences* that other people get, and not merely through what they do.

Aversive (Conditioning)

A type of *Classical Conditioning* that seeks to *Train Away* an *Unwanted Behavior* by creating *Negative* associations with it.