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Learning

The process of adapting to changes in the environment.

Evolution

Species-level changes over time influencing behavior and psychology.

Habituation

Decrease in response to a repeated stimulus, allowing focus on relevant stimuli.

Sensitization

Increase in response to a repeated stimulus, serving as protection from danger.

Behaviorism

Psychological perspective focusing on observable behaviors and dismissing mental processes.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process involving involuntary responses from learned pairing of stimuli.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural response that occurs automatically, such as salivation.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Initially neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.

Extinction

Disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Generalization

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

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between similar yet different stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behaviors are influenced by their consequences, such as reinforcement and punishment.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Primary Reinforcer

Stimuli that fulfill basic biological needs, such as food or water.

Secondary Reinforcer

Stimuli originally neutral but gain value through association with primary reinforcers.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where a response is rewarded after a specified number of responses.

Varied Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where rewards are given based on varying time intervals.

Phobias

Irrational fears that can evolve from evolutionary survival instincts.

Social Cognitive Theory

Theory asserting that people learn from observing others and applying knowledge to their own actions.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others.

Vocal Learning

Learning to produce sounds by listening to others, as seen in some animals.