Psych 105 Flashcards

Flashcards generated from lecture notes to help with exam preparation, focusing on key vocabulary and concepts.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

A learned response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Classical Conditioning

Learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually eliciting a conditioned response.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning where the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus is formed.

Generalization

Performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation than where it was learned.

Discrimination

Responding appropriately to stimuli that signal whether a behavior will be reinforced or not.

Extinction

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

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction without further conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning where behavior is strengthened or weakened depending on its consequences.

Thorndike's Law of Effect

Behavior is a function of its consequences; behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something to increase or maintain the strength of a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something to increase or maintain the strength of a behavior.

Primary Reinforcer

A reinforcer that is not dependent on association with another reinforcer; it is naturally reinforcing.

Conditioned Reinforcer

A reinforcer that gains its reinforcing power through association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior only some of the time.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement is given after a predictable number of responses.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is given after a predictable amount of time has passed.

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Punishment

A consequence that reduces the strength of a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding something to suppress a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing something to suppress a behavior.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing the behavior of others; also known as vicarious learning.

Modeling

Observing and imitating the behavior of others.

Retention Interval

The time between encoding and recall of information.

Encoding

Transforming physical/sensory input into something that can be stored in memory.

Storage

Retaining encoded information in memory.

Retrieval

Gaining access to information stored in memory.

Short-Term Memory (STM)

Memory system that holds information for about 30 seconds.

Long-Term Memory (LTM)

Memory system that can hold information for longer periods than STM.

Chunking

Organizing items into familiar, manageable units; often occurs automatically.

Explicit Memory

Conscious memories that can be verbally stated; also known as declarative memory.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memories that cannot be verbally stated; also known as nondeclarative memory.

Priming

The activation of information that people already have in storage to help them remember new information better and faster.

Context-Dependent Memory

Memory retrieval is enhanced when in the same context as when the memory was encoded.

State-Dependent Learning

Memory retrieval is enhanced when in the same physiological or psychological state as when the memory was encoded.

Serial Position Effect

The tendency to recall the items at the beginning and end of a list more readily than those in the middle.

Recency Effect

Better recall for items at the end of a list, as they are still in STM.

Primacy Effect

Better recall for items at the beginning of a list, as they have been moved to LTM.

Heuristic

A mental shortcut or rule of thumb used for problem-solving and decision-making.

Algorithm

A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem.

Representativeness Heuristic

Judging the likelihood of something belonging to a category based on how well it matches the prototype of that category.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for information that supports one's preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence.

Framing

The way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.

Phoneme

The smallest distinctive sound unit in a language.

Morpheme

The smallest unit that carries meaning in a language.

General Intelligence (g)

A general intelligence factor that underlies specific mental abilities and is measured by every task on an intelligence test.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions.

Standardization

The process of defining uniform procedures for administering and scoring a test and establishing norms.

Reliability

The extent to which a test yields consistent results.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to.

Stereotype Threat

A self-confirming concern that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype.