psych unit 4 flashcards

learning

learning

the acquisition of new information, experiences, and behaviors

associative learning

learning by connecting events that occur in a sequence

classical conditioning

the type of learning which uses a US/R to link a CS and CR

behaviorism

the type of psychology that focuses on objective research

unconditioned response (UR)

the natural response

unconditioned stimulus (US)

the original stimulus that produce the goal response

conditioned response (CR)

the goal response that comes from the alternate (initially neutral) stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

the alternate (initially neutral) stimulus

acquisition

the stage in classical conditioning in which there is an association between the CS and the US

extinction

when the CR stops occurring, as a result of US not following the CS

spontaneous recovery

when the CR occurs after a rest period of extinction

generalization

the tendency to respond to stimulus similar to the CS

discrimination

the learned ability to distinguish between a CS and similar, but different stimuli

operant conditioning

learning that forms an association between behaviors and the resulting events

respondent behavior

an automatic response to a stimulus

operant behavior

a behavior that produces a rewarding or punishing stimuli

law of effect

Skinner’s idea that rewarded behaviors are more likely to occur

operant chamber/skinner box

an enclosure containing stimuli, and all responses are automatically recorded

shaping

the production of new operant behaviors via reinforcement

reinforcer

any even that strengthens the behavior it follows

positive reinforcement

any reinforcement that adds stimulus

negative reinforcement

any reinforcement that takes away stimulus

primary reinforcer

an innate need that acts as a reinforcement

conditioned reinforcer

a learned reinforer

continuous reinforcement

reinforcement that occurs every time

partial (intermediate) reinforcement

reinforces only sometimes

fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcement only after a set number of occurrences

variable-ratio schedule

reinforcement after an unpredictable number of occurrences

fixed-interval schedule

reinforcement only after a specified amount of time has passed

variable-interval schedule

reinforcement after unpredictable time intervals

punishment

negative reinforcement that decreases the behavior it follows

cognitive map

mental representations of an environment

latent learning

cognitive maps that are created when given an incentive

intrinsic motivation

motivation to do something for its own sake

extrinsic motivation

motivation to do something because of a reward or punishment

observational learning

learning by watching something else

modeling

showing something to learn through observation

mirror neurons

neurons active during observational learning; neurons that respond the same way to an action (even if that action was not actually done)

prosocial behavior

behavior that benefits one or more other people