Psychology 1011: Learning Concepts

Flashcards covering major concepts and terms related to learning in psychology.

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US).

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (CS).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An originally neutral stimulus that comes to trigger a conditioned response after association with 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.

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens, or increases the frequency of, a preceding response.

Shaping

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

Positive Reinforcement

Strengthens a response by presenting a typically pleasurable stimulus after a response.

Negative Reinforcement

Strengthens a response by reducing or removing an aversive stimulus.

Latent Learning

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

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others.

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.

Punishment

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.