Untitled Flashcard Set

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for learned behaviors to revert back to biologically predisposed, instinctual patterns.

High Order Conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people learn by observing, imitating, and modeling the behavior of others.

Reciprocal Determinism

The idea that behavior, personal factors, and the environment all interact and influence one another.

The Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to recur, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior.

Discrimination

Learning to respond differently to similar stimuli.

Generalization

Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening of a learned response when reinforcement or the conditioned stimulus is no longer present.

Token Economy

A system that uses tokens as rewards that can be exchanged for other reinforcers.

Secondary Reinforcer

A stimulus that gains reinforcing power through association with a primary reinforcer (e.g., money).

Vicarious Reinforcement

Learning by observing someone else being reinforced.

Habituation

Decreased response to a repeated, harmless stimulus.

Cognitive Learning

Learning that involves mental processes such as thinking, knowing, and problem-solving.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a response is first established and strengthened.

Discriminative Stimulus

A stimulus that signals when a particular response will be reinforced.

Primary Reinforcer

A naturally reinforcing stimulus that satisfies a biological need (e.g., food, water).

Conditioned Reinforcer

A learned reinforcer associated with a primary reinforcer.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior only some of the time, making the behavior more resistant to extinction.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of the layout of an environment.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement but becomes apparent when needed.

Insight Learning

Sudden realization of a solution to a problem without trial-and-error.

Modeling

Learning through observing and imitating others.

Mirror Neurons

Brain cells that fire both when performing an action and when observing someone else perform it.

Prosocial Behavior

Positive, helpful, constructive behavior.

Antisocial Behavior

Negative, aggressive, or harmful behavior toward others.