AP Psychology Learning & Conditioning Unit

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, principles, and definitions from the AP Psychology Learning & Conditioning Unit.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning).

Stimulus

Any change or signal in the environment that can make an organism react in some way.

Classical Conditioning

Conditioning process in which an originally neutral stimulus, by repeated pairing with a stimulus that normally elicits a response, comes to elicit a similar or even identical response; aka Pavlovian conditioning.

Behaviorism

An approach to psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment as a determinant of behavior.

Neutral Stimulus

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus

Stimulus that normally produces a measurable involuntary response.

Conditioned Stimulus

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

Conditioned Response

In classical conditioning, the response elicited by the conditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Response

Unlearned or involuntary response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Acquisition

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

Extinction

Disappearance of the conditioned response.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Generalization

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

Discrimination

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. (Skinner)

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Operant Chamber

A chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

Reinforcement

An event following a response that strengthens the tendency to make that response.

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.

Primary Reinforce

Reinforcer that has survival value for an organism; this value does not have to be learned.

Reinforcement Schedule

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

Continuous Reinforcement

The reinforcement of a desired response every time it occurs.

Partial (intermittent) Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed Interval Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Variable Interval Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Punishment

A stimulus that weakens behavior because it is unpleasant and we try to avoid it.

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner's term for behavior learned through classical conditioning.

Operant Behavior

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.

Latent Learning

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

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Mirror Neurons

Frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy.