Term Packets Vocab

Classical Conditioning

Learning by associating two stimuli

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Stimulus that naturally triggers a response (e.g.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Stimulus that initially has no response

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Previously NS that now triggers a learned response

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Natural

Conditioned Response (CR)

Learned response to CS

Higher-Order (Second-Order) Conditioning

Pairing a new NS with a CS to produce another CS

Extinction

CR weakens when CS is no longer paired with US

Spontaneous Recovery

CR reappears after extinction pause

Generalization

CR occurs to stimuli similar to CS

Discrimination

Learning to respond only to CS and not similar stimuli

Operant Conditioning

Learning by associating behavior with consequences

Shaping

Reinforcing successive steps toward a desired behavior

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior

Primary Reinforcer

Naturally reinforcing stimulus (food

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcer

Learned reinforcer (money

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforce after a fixed amount of time

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reinforce after unpredictable amount of time

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforce after a fixed number of responses

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforce after an unpredictable number of responses (slot machines)

Positive Punishment

Add unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior

Negative Punishment

Remove pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior

Instinctive Drift

Tendency of animals to revert to natural behaviors despite conditioning

Cognitive Map

Mental representation of physical environment

Latent Learning

Learning that is not demonstrated until there is incentive to show it

Insight

Sudden realization of solution (“aha moment”)

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others

Modeling

Imitating behavior of a model

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when performing and observing an action

Prosocial Behavior

Positive

Antisocial Behavior

Negative

Prototype

Best example of a category

Assimilation

Fitting new info into existing schema

Accommodation

Modifying schema to fit new info

Convergent Thinking

Narrowing to one single best solution

Divergent Thinking

Producing many possible solutions (creativity)

Executive Functioning

Higher-order processes like planning

Algorithm

Step-by-step method that guarantees a solution

Heuristic

Mental shortcut that is quick but error-prone

Representativeness Heuristic

Judging based on how well something matches a prototype

Availability Heuristic

Judging based on how easily examples come to mind

Confirmation Bias

Seeking information that confirms preexisting beliefs

Mental Set

Tendency to approach problems the same way

Belief Perseverance

Holding onto beliefs despite contrary evidence

Framing

How information is presented affects decisions

Five Components of Creativity

Expertise

Recall

Retrieving info without cues (free response)

Recognition

Identifying info from choices (multiple choice)

Encoding

Getting information into memory

Storage

Retaining information over time

Retrieval

Getting information out of memory

Parallel Processing

Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Sensory Memory

Immediate

Iconic Memory

Visual sensory memory (0.5 sec)

Echoic Memory

Auditory sensory memory (3–4 sec)

Short-Term Memory (STM)

Holds 7 ± 2 items for ~20 seconds

Working Memory

Active manipulation of information in STM

Phonological Loop

Working memory system for verbal/auditory info

Visuospatial Sketchpad

Working memory system for visual/spatial info

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

Strengthening of synapses after learning

Explicit Memory

Conscious recall of facts/events (hippocampus)

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory of skills/conditioning (cerebellum

Chunking

Organizing info into familiar groups

Mnemonics

Memory aids (acronyms

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories from before injury

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after injury

Proactive Interference

Old info blocks recall of new info

Retroactive Interference

New info blocks recall of old info