PSYC 101: Classical Conditioning and Learning

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental definitions, key figures, and core principles of classical conditioning from PSYC 101.

Learning

A relatively enduring change in behavior or knowledge as a result of experience.

Conditioning

The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses.

Classical Conditioning

A basic learning process that involves repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with a response-producing stimulus until the neutral stimulus elicits the same response.

Ivan Pavlov

The researcher ($1849\text{–}1936$) who discovered and studied classical conditioning, reflexive responses, and the formation of associations between stimuli.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A natural stimulus that reflexively elicits a response without the need for prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

An unlearned, reflexive response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A formerly neutral stimulus that acquires the capacity to elicit a reflexive response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned, reflexive response to a conditioned stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that is noticed but does not naturally produce the unconditioned reflexive response prior to conditioning (e.g., the ticking metronome before conditioning in Pavlov's experiment).

Timing (in Classical Conditioning)

A factor indicating that conditioning is most effective when the conditioned stimulus is presented immediately before the unconditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

The occurrence of a learned response not only to the original stimulus but also to other, similar stimuli as well.

Stimulus Discrimination

The occurrence of a learned response to a specific stimulus but not to other, similar stimuli.

Higher Order Conditioning

A conditioning process in which a second conditioned stimulus comes to elicit the conditioned response, even though it has never been directly paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction (in Classical Conditioning)

The gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of conditioned behavior that occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of time without exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Behaviorism

A school of psychology and theoretical viewpoint founded by John Watson that emphasizes the scientific study of observable behaviors, especially as they pertain to the process of learning.

The "Case of Little Albert"

A controversial classical conditioning experiment conducted by Watson and Rayner demonstrating how fear could be conditioned by pairing a white rat with a loud steel bar clang.

Biological Preparedness

The idea that an organism is innately predisposed to form associations between certain stimuli and responses, such as humans developing fears of snakes, spiders, and heights.