Laura A. King "The Science of Psychology" Chapter 6

learning

a systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience

behaviorism

a theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of mental activity such as thinking, wishing, and hoping

associative learning

learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection or association, between two events

observational learning

learning that occurs through observing and imitating another's behavior

classical conditioning

learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response

acquisition (in classical conditioning)

the initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired

generalization (in classical conditioning)

the tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response tat is similar to the conditioned response

discrimination (in classical conditioning)

the process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others

extinction (in classical conditioning)

the weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent

spontaneous recovery

the process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning

renewal

the recovery of the conditioned response when the organism is places in a novel context [ex: patient leaving rehab and returning home]

counterconditioning

a classical conditioning procedures for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response

aversive conditioning

a form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus

habituation

decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations

operant/instrumental conditioning

a form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence [ex: taking a new route to school, pleasant experience, repeat next time]

law of effect

behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and that behaviors followed by negative outcomes are weakened

shaping

rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior

reinforcement

the process by which a stimulus or event (a reinforcer) following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again

positive reinforcement

the presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior [ex: a head nod, giving a dog a treat when it does a trick]

negative reinforcement

the removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior

avoidance learning

an organism's learning that it can altogether avoid a negative stimulus by making a particular response

learned helplessness

an organism's learning through experience with negative stimuli that it has no control over negative outcomes

primary reinforcer

does not take any conditioning for the learner to find it pleasurable [ex: food, water, sex]

secondary reinforcer

takes some conditioning [ex: getting an A on a test or a paycheck]

generalization (in operant conditioning)

performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation

discrimination (in operant conditioning)

responding appropriately to a stimuli that signal that a behavior will or will not be reinforced

extinction (in operant conditioning)

decrease in the frequency of a behavior when the behavior is no longer reinforced

schedules of reinforcement

specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced

punishment

a consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur

positive punishment

the presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior

negative punishment

the removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior

applied behavior analysis/behavior modification

the use of operant conditions principles to change human behavior

latent/implicit learning

unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior

insight learning

a form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of a problem's solution

instinctive drift

the tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning

preparedness

the species-speficic biological predisposition to learn in certain way but not others