AP Psychology Unit 4: Learning

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that comes from experience or training

Behavioral learning

A process in which experience with the environment leads to a relatively permanent change in behavior or the potential for a change in behavior.

Cognitive learning

a theory that defines learning as a behavioral change based on the acquisition of information about the environment. Deals with intelligence and conscious thought.

Associative learning

Learning that two different events occur or happen together.

Classical conditioning

learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli to anticipate events

Conditioned Stimulus

originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

learned

Unconditioned stimulus

stimulus that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response.

unconditioned response

unlearned response, natural response

Ex. dog's salvation because of seeing food

conditioned response

learned response, unnatural

Ex. dog's salvation because hearing a tone

Acquisition

first stages of learning when a response is established. In classical conditioning, it refers to the period of time when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response.

Extinction

the disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced.

Spontaneous recovery

the reappearance of a conditioned response that has been diminished .

Generalization

tendency for once a response has been conditioned, similar stimuli to the conditioned stimulus can evoke similar responses

Discrimination

learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and a irrelevant stimulus

Second (higher) order conditioning

A new neutral stimulus can become a new conditioned stimulus

ex. a dog seeing that tone predicts food can predict tone by seeing light so he responds to light by predicting food

Operant Conditioning

learning process in which behavior is sensitive to, or is controlled by its consequences

Aversive conditioning

the use of something unpleasant, or a punishment, to stop an unwanted behavior

respondent behavior

actions that are automatic responses to a stimulus

Learned taste aversion

When the taste of the food is associated with symptoms caused by toxic, spoiled or poisonous contents.

Garcia Effect

Habituation

organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure

Mere exposure effect

to like something simply because you are exposed to it over and over again.

Law of effect

behaviors that give good rewards are more likely
behaviors that give bad rewards are less likely

operant chamber

skinner box, bar that has a bar and a key that an animal presses or pecks to get food

Positive reinforcement

presenting a good stimulus to the person after the desired behavior is exhibited, making the behavior more likely to happen in the future.

negative reinforcement

occurs when a bad stimulus is removed after a particular behavior is exhibited. The likelihood of the particular behavior occurring again in the future is increased because of removing/avoiding the negative consequence.

Positive punishment

presenting a negative consequence after an undesired behavior is exhibited, making the behavior less likely to happen in the future.

negative punishment

desired stimulus is removed after a particular undesired behavior is exhibited, resulting in the behavior happening less often in the future.

Omission training

When something the subject enjoys is taken away as punishment for an action or behavior. This is done in hopes to prevent the action/behavior from occurring again. The omission of a reward or something pleasurable will decrease the likelihood of the undesirable behavior occurring again.

Primary reinforcers

innately reinforcing stimulus, one that satisfies a biological need
ex. getting food when hungry - unlearned

Secondary reinforcers

aka conditioned reinforcers, get their power through learned association with primary reinforcers

if we know that money will make us happy, we will work towards money to become happy

Shaping

giving rewards to gradually guide an animal's actions toward a desired behavior
Ex. getting a sticker for saying thank you

Continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Intermittent (partial) reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time, slower acquisition but greater resistance to extinction

Fixed ratio schedule

reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable ratio schedule

reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Characteristics
-Leads to a high, steady response rate
-Results in only a brief pause after reinforcement

Fixed interval schedule

reinforcement schedule that reinforces a specific time has passed

Variable interval schedule

reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Token economy

An operant technique applied to groups, such as classrooms or mental hospital wards, involving the distribution of "tokens" or other indicators of reinforcement on desired behaviors. The tokens can later be exchanged for privileges, food, or other reinforcers.

Ex. When a chimpanzee performs a desired behavior, he gets plastic tokens which he can exchange for raisins.
A teacher rewarding a student with candy for answering a question correctly is reinforcing a postive behavior.

Premack principle

A behavior that happens naturally can be used as a reinforcer for a behavior that occurs less

Over justification

Lose interest over something one enjoys because they are rewarded for it. Therefore, they consider it as work

Conditions for punishment to work

a term used in operant conditioning to refer to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future. While positive and negative reinforcement are used to increase behaviors, punishment is focused on reducing or eliminating unwanted behaviors.

reinforcement always increases the chances that a behavior will occur and punishment always decreases the chances that a behavior will occur.

Latent learning

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Insight learning

sudden realization of a solution to a problem rather than trial and error

Vicarious learning

learning that is derived from indirect sources such as hearing or observation, rather than direct, hands-on, instruction.

While growing up we went to school where we received direct instruction in many subjects. However we also had a life outside of school where we learned a lot by observing our parents and siblings, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances - we watched them do everyday tasks and pursue hobbies, interests, and physical skills that we also learned from even if we weren't actively trying to.

Social learning

learning by watching others

model/modelling/observational learning

client learns by imitation alone, without any specific verbal direction by the therapist

Ex. watching someone do something successfully, and learning to mimic it to complete the task.

Cognitive map

is a mental picture or image of the layout of one's physical environment

Mirror neurons

a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action

Ex. when you are grabbing a cup of coffee, Motor Neuron A (which also happens to be a Mirror Neuron) fires to tell your hand to reach out and grip the handle of the cup. When you watch your friend pick up his own cup of coffee, Motor Neuron A also fires as if you were also picking up his cup of coffee, even if your hand is not moving at all.

Prosocial Behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior
Any behavior targeted to help others.

Antisocial Behavior

behavior where a person disregards the feelings of others

abusive parents will have aggressive children