Chapter 4: Learning and Human Nature (Video Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering core concepts of classical conditioning and related learning topics from the lecture notes.

Learning

A process through which experience produces lasting change in behavior or mental processes.

Instincts

Motivated behaviors that have a strong innate basis.

Habituation

Learning not to respond to repeated presentation of a stimulus.

Mere Exposure Effect

A learned preference for stimuli to which we have been previously exposed.

Behavioral Learning

Forms of learning that can be described in terms of stimuli and responses (e.g., classical and operant conditioning).

Classical Conditioning

A stimulus that produces an innate reflex becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus, which then acquires the power to elicit essentially the same response.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Any stimulus that produces no conditioned response prior to learning.

Acquisition

Initial learning stage in classical conditioning; CS elicits CR.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

The stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

The unlearned response to the UCS.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that comes to elicit the conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

Weakening of a conditioned response in the absence of an unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

Unexpected reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a time delay.

Stimulus Generalization

The extension of a learned response to stimuli that are similar to the CS.

Stimulus Discrimination

Learning to respond to a particular stimulus but not to similar stimuli.

Conditioned Food Aversions

Pairing of food (NS) with being sick (UCS/UCR) leading to food (CS) making you feel ill (CR).

Counterconditioning

Therapy that tries to pair CS with relaxation.

Phobias

Excessive, irrational fears.

Trichotillomania

A hair-pulling disorder.

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

A condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

Conditioned Fear

A fear response produced by pairing a neutral stimulus with an aversive UCS.

Watson’s Little Albert Experiment

A study showing conditioned fear in a child by pairing a white rat with a loud noise.