Midterm: Classical and Operant Conditioning Key Terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS):

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UCR):

An automatic, unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus (CS):

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a learned response.

Conditioned Response (CR):

A learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus, developed through association.

Classical Conditioning:

involuntary responses that result from the experiences that occur before a response

Classical conditioning

is almost like a reward system—your brain learns what to expect and prepares you to act. It’s how we adapt, survive, and even develop habits.

Learning:

A lasting change in behavior or knowledge resulting from experience.

Acquisition:

The initial stage of learning when a connection is made between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

Extinction:

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Generalization:

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, even if they haven’t been paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Discrimination:

The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli, responding only to the specific conditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequences, where the likelihood of a voluntary behavior is increased by reinforcement or decreased by punishment.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus after a behavior that increases behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior that decreases behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus after a behavior that decreases behavior.

Reinforcer:

Any stimulus that strengthens a behavior (can be positive or negative)

Punisher:

Any stimulus that weakens a behavior.

Spontaneous recovery!

is a psychological phenomenon where a previously extinguished conditioned response suddenly reappears after a period of rest or no exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Higher-Order Conditioning

Formal Definition: occurs when a new neutral stimulus becomes associated with a conditioned stimulus and also elicits a conditioned response.
Conversational Explanation: This means learning a new signal that links to something you already learned.

Law of Effect (p. 189)

Formal Definition: The law of effect states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely.
Conversational Explanation: This means people repeat what works and stop what does not.

Primary Reinforcer

Formal Definition: A primary reinforcer has innate reinforcing qualities such as food, water, or shelter.
Conversational Explanation: This means something that naturally feels good without learning it.

Secondary Reinforcer (p. 192)

Formal Definition: A secondary reinforcer has value only because it is linked with a primary reinforcer.
Conversational Explanation: This means something that feels rewarding because it leads to a real reward.

Example: Money is valuable because it can buy food or comfort.

Shaping (p. 193)

Formal Definition: Shaping is rewarding successive steps toward a desired behavior.
Conversational Explanation: This means giving rewards for small steps that get closer to the goal.

Continuous Reinforcement (p. 194)

Formal Definition: Continuous reinforcement means providing a reinforcer every time the behavior is displayed.
Conversational Explanation: This means you get a reward every single time you do something right.

Partial Reinforcement (p. 194)

Formal Definition: Partial reinforcement means reinforcement does not occur every time a behavior is performed.
Conversational Explanation: This means you are rewarded sometimes but not always.

Reflex (p. 182)

Formal Definition: A reflex is an unlearned, automatic response to a specific stimulus.
Conversational Explanation: This means something your body does automatically without thinking.

Instinct (p. 182)

Formal Definition: An instinct is an unlearned behavior pattern that is more complex than a reflex and triggered by broader events.
Conversational Explanation: This means a natural behavior you are born knowing how to do.

Operant Conditioning is learning by

BEHAVIOR 

Classical conditioning is learned by

ASSOCIATION

Albert Bandura

Formal Definition: Albert Bandura was a psychologist who demonstrated that people learn by observing others in his Bobo doll experiment.
Conversational Explanation: This means he proved that people can learn by watching instead of just by doing.

Bobo Doll Experiment (p. 201)

Formal Definition: The Bobo doll experiment showed that children imitate aggressive behaviors seen in adult models.
Conversational Explanation: This means kids copy what adults do, even when they see it instead of experience it.

What is the difference between vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment?

Vicarious reinforcement makes you copy a rewarded action, while vicarious punishment makes you avoid a punished one.

What are the three main types of models in observational learning?

Live models, verbal instructional models, and symbolic models.