Untitled Flashcards Set

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a response is first established and gradually strengthened.

Associative learning

A learning process in which a new response becomes associated with a particular stimulus.

Aversive consequence

An unpleasant outcome that follows a behavior, reducing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.

Behavioral Perspective

A viewpoint that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned.

Biological preparedness

The innate readiness of an organism to learn certain associations more easily than others.

Classical conditioning

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

Cognitive maps

Mental representations of physical locations that help an organism navigate an environment.

Conditioned Response

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become conditioned.

Conditioned Stimulus

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

Conditioning

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

Continuous reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement where every occurrence of a desired behavior is reinforced.

Counter conditioning

A technique used to eliminate a condition response by associating it with a new, incompatible response.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when the reinforcement is no longer presented.

Fixed interval

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards after a specified amount of time has passed.

Fixed ratio

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards after a specified number of responses.

Generalization

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

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

Higher Order Conditioning

A learning process in which a previously conditioned stimulus is used as if it were an unconditioned stimulus.

Insight learning

A sudden realization of a problem's solution without trial-and-error behavior.

Instinct drift

The tendency of an animal to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with a conditioned response.

Latent learning

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

Law of effect

The principle that responses followed by favorable consequences become more likely, while those followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Learned helplessness

A condition in which a person feels unable to control their environment, leading to a passive acceptance of situations.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.

Modeling

The process of learning behaviors through observation and imitation of others.

Negative punishment

The removal of a stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Observational learning

Learning by observing the behaviors of others.

One trial conditioning

Learning that occurs after a single exposure to a stimulus.

Operant conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Partial reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement where only some occurrences of the desired behavior are reinforced.

Positive Punishment

The addition of an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Primary reinforcements

Reinforcements that have innate biological value, such as food or water.

Secondary reinforcement

Reinforcements that have no intrinsic value but are associated with primary reinforcements.

Shaping

The process of reinforcing successive approximations to the desired behavior.

Social learning

Learning that occurs within a social context through observation and interaction with others.

Spontaneous Recovery

The re-emergence of a conditioned response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the specific stimulus that signals a reinforcement.

Superstitious behaviors

Actions that are believed to influence outcomes but are not actually connected to the outcomes.

Taste aversions

Learned associations between the taste of a certain food and an adverse reaction.

Unconditioned Response

A natural response that occurs without prior conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without any prior learning.

Variable interval

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards after unpredictable amounts of time have passed.

Variable ratio

A reinforcement schedule that provides rewards after an unpredictable number of responses.

Vicarious learning

Learning that occurs by observing the rewards and consequences of another's behavior.