Psych Modules 26-30

Learning

Learning

the process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Habituation

An organisms decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together. The events may b two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

Stimulus

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Cognitive Learning

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Behaviorism

The view that psychology (1) should be should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1), but not with (2)

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Unconditioned Response (UR)

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in the mouth)

Unconditioned Stimulus

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically- triggers a response (UR)

Conditioned Response (CR)

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned stimulus) (CS)

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response

Acquisition

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of reinforced response

High-Order/Second Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new, neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. For example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might learn that a light predicts the tone and begin responding to the light alone

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response, occurs in classical conditioning when a unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal 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

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

Operant Chamber

In operant conditioning research, a chamber, (also known as a skinner box) containing a box or a key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pressing

Reinforcement

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward loser and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Discriminitive Stimulus

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcement. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimuli that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response

Primary Reinforcer

An innately reinforcing stimulus such as one that satisfies a biological need

Conditioned/Secondary Reinforcer

A stimulus that against its reinforcing power through ts association with a primary reinforcer

Reinforcement Schedule

A pattern that defines how often a desired response will be enforced

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower, acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction that does continuous reinforcement

Fixed Ratio Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Variable Ratio Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number or responses

Fixed Interval Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

Variable Interval Schedule

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

Punishment

An event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that ocurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Operant Behavior

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

Ivan Pavlov

The early 20th century experiment-new psychologys most famous research- are classics, and the phenomenon he explored is called classic conditioning

John B. Watson

Urged his collegues to disregard reference to inner thoughts, feelings, and motives. Psychology should study how organisms respond to stimuli in their environments. Psychology should be an objective science based on observable behavior (behaviorism)

B.F. Skinner

Modern behaviorisms most influential and controversial figure. His work elaborated on Thorndike's Law of Effect (principles of behavior control) (Skinner box)

Edward L Thorndike

Rewarded behavior is likely to occur (Law of Effects)

John Garcia

Challenged the idea that all association can be learned equally well (rat radiation study)

Robert Rescorla

Showed that an animal can learn the predictability of an event

Edward Tolman

Convicted studies that showed evidence of cognitive processes through studying rats in mazes (Cognitive map: creating images in your head)

Albert Bandura

Pioneering researcher of observation learning (Bobo doll study)