PSYC 104: Learning

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior, knowledge, or capability resulting from experience.

Reflex

An automatic, unlearned stimulus-response sequence.

Fixed Action Pattern

An innate sequence of behaviors triggered by specific stimuli.

Epistemology

The study of how knowledge is acquired.

Empiricism

The view that knowledge comes through experience.

Rationalism

The view that reasoning contributes to knowledge.

Associationism

Learning through connections among events, ideas, and experiences.

Law of Contiguity

Events close in time or space become associated.

Law of Similarity

Similar ideas or stimuli become linked.

Law of Contrast

Opposing ideas become associated through differences.

Habituation

Reduced responding to a repeated stimulus.

Sensory Adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to ongoing stimulation.

Flow

A state of complete engagement and focus.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association between stimuli.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially produces no target response.

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that naturally produces a response.

Unconditioned Response

An automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that acquires meaning through learning.

Conditioned Response

A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.

Acquisition

Initial learning phase involving repeated pairings.

Stimulus Contiguity

Temporal closeness between learning stimuli.

Forward Conditioning

The conditioned stimulus occurs before the unconditioned stimulus.

Trace Conditioning

A gap exists between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.

Backward Conditioning

The unconditioned stimulus occurs before the conditioned stimulus.

Simultaneous Conditioning

Both stimuli occur at the same time.

Extinction

A learned response weakens when reinforcement or pairing stops.

Spontaneous Recovery

Return of an extinguished response after a delay.

Disinhibition

Recovery of responding after introduction of a novel stimulus.

Fear Conditioning

Learning to associate a stimulus with fear.

Higher-Order Conditioning

Using an existing conditioned stimulus to condition a new one.

Conditioned Taste Aversion

Avoidance of food associated with illness.

Stimulus Generalization

Responding to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination

Responding differently to distinct stimuli.

Experimental Neurosis

Disorganized behavior caused by difficult discriminations.

Conditioned Compensatory Response

A learned response that opposes a drug's effects.

Drug Tolerance

Reduced drug effectiveness following repeated use.

Cue Reactivity

Cravings triggered by drug-related cues.

Two-Factor Model

Fear acquisition through classical conditioning and maintenance through operant conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through the consequences of behavior.

Instrumental Conditioning

Another term for operant conditioning.

Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are strengthened.

Operant

A voluntary behavior that affects the environment.

Reinforcer

A consequence that increases behavior.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases behavior.

Discriminative Stimulus

A cue signaling reinforcement availability.

S-Delta

A cue signaling reinforcement is unavailable.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behavior by adding a desirable stimulus.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.

Positive Punishment

Decreasing behavior by adding an aversive stimulus.

Negative Punishment

Decreasing behavior by removing a desirable stimulus.

ABC Model

Analysis of Antecedents, Behavior, and Consequences.

Antecedent

An event occurring before a behavior.

Consequence

An event occurring after a behavior.

Tangible Reinforcer

A physical reward.

Social Reinforcer

Praise, attention, or approval used as reinforcement.

Activity Reinforcer

Access to a preferred activity as reinforcement.

Premack Principle

High-probability behaviors reinforce low-probability behaviors.

Token Reinforcer

A symbolic reward exchangeable for other rewards.

Secondary Reinforcer

A learned reinforcer.

Impulse Control Disorder

Difficulty resisting rewarding behaviors.

Obsession

Persistent intrusive thoughts.

Compulsion

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce anxiety.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a goal.

Successive Approximation

Each step closer to a target behavior.

Extinction Burst

Temporary increase in behavior during extinction.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcement after every response.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcement after some responses.

Reinforcement Schedule

The pattern of reinforcement delivery.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after a fixed number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after a varying number of responses.

Fixed Interval Schedule

Reinforcement after a fixed amount of time.

Variable Interval Schedule

Reinforcement after varying amounts of time.

Cognitive Learning

Learning emphasizing mental processes.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others.

Social Cognitive Theory

Learning involving observation, cognition, and social influences.

Modelling

Imitating the behavior of a model.

Attention

Focusing on relevant information.

Retention

Remembering observed information.

Encoding

Converting information into memory.

Reproduction

Performing an observed behavior.

Motivation

Desire to perform a learned behavior.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Learning by observing others receive rewards.

Bobo Doll Study

Bandura's experiment demonstrating observational learning.

Reciprocal Determinism

Interaction among behavior, person, and environment.

Aristotle

Empiricism, associationism, laws of contiguity, similarity, and contrast.

Ivan Pavlov

Founder of classical conditioning research.

John B. Watson

Founder of behaviorism; Little Albert study.

Edward Thorndike

Developed the Law of Effect and instrumental learning.

B. F. Skinner

Developed operant conditioning, reinforcement theory, and the Skinner Box.

Edward Tolman

Proposed latent learning and cognitive maps.

Albert Bandura

Developed Social Cognitive Theory, modelling, and reciprocal determinism.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Developed the concept of Flow.