Ap psych 3.4

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.

Acquisition

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

Associative Learning

A learning principle that states that ideas and experiences reinforce one another and can be mentally linked.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge due to experience.

Response

A behavior or reaction elicited by a stimulus.

Behaviorist Conditioning

A paradigm that studies observable behaviors and disregards mental activities.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially does not elicit any specific response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

An unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

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

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus no longer follows the conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause.

Taste Aversion

A learned avoidance of a particular food or drink.

One-trial Conditioning

A form of learning where one exposure to a stimulus leads to a strong conditioned response.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A form of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new stimulus.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

Observable behavior

Actions that can be seen and measured.

Stimulus Generalization

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

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli.

Counterconditioning

A behavioral therapy that changes the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process in which behavior is influenced by consequences.

Law of Effect

The principle that responses followed by favorable consequences become more likely.

Operant Chamber (Skinner box)

A device used to study operant conditioning within animals.

Punishment (positive & negative)

Positive punishment adds an unpleasant consequence, while negative punishment removes a pleasant stimulus.

Reinforcement (positive & negative)

Positive reinforcement adds a pleasant stimulus, while negative reinforcement removes an unpleasant stimulus.

Primary vs Secondary Reinforcers

Primary reinforcers satisfy biological needs; secondary reinforcers gain value through association.

Shaping

Gradually guiding actions toward a desired behavior through reinforcement.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behaviors that interfere with a conditioned response.

Superstitious Behavior

Behavior learned through accidental reinforcement, leading to a perceived link between behavior and outcome.

Learned Helplessness

A condition resulting from a lack of control over a situation, leading to a passive resignation.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Rules that determine how and when a behavior will be reinforced.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time.

Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that is based on the number of responses.

Interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule based on the timing of responses.

Fixed Ratio

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after a specific number of responses.

Variable Ratio

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed Interval

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after a specific amount of time has passed.

Variable Interval

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

Reinforcement Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between reinforcement stimuli.

Reinforcement Generalization

The tendency for the effects of reinforcement to spread to similar stimuli.

Consequence

The outcome or effect that follows a behavior.

Successive Approximation

Reinforcing successive steps toward a final desired behavior.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that people can learn new behaviors by observing others.

Models

Individuals whose behavior is observed for learning purposes.

Insight Learning

A form of learning that involves a sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of one's environment.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire when performing an action or observing another doing it.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning through the observation of the conditioning experiences of others.

Social Cognitive Theory

A theory emphasizing the role of observational learning, imitation, and modeling.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs through observing the behavior of others.