Unit 3B

Learning

The process of acquiring through experience, new and relatively enduring information and behaviors

Associative learning

Learning that certain events occurr together

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which we link two or more stimuli as a result, the first stimuli comes to elect behavior and anticipation of the second stimulus

neutral stimulus

A stimulus that elects no response before conditioning (bell)

unconditioned stimuli

A stimulus that conditionally naturally and automatically triggers an unconditional response (food)

unconditioned response

an unlearn naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus (saliva)

conditioned stimulus

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

Conditioned response

A learning response to previously neutral stimulus (saliva)

behaviorism

A theory of learning that states all behaviors are learned through conditioned interactions with the environment

acquisition

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

Extinction

The process of gradually weakening or eliminating a learned behavior by withholding the consequences that previously reinforced it

spontaneous recovery

The reappearance after a pause of a weekend conditioned response

generalization (stimulus generalization)

The tendency to respond similarly to different but related stimuli

discrimination (stimulus discrimination)

The ability to differentiate between stimuli and respond differently to each one

biological preparedness

A biological predisposition to learn associations that have survival value

One trial conditioning

A single pairing of contaminated food and illness can produce a taste of aversion

operant condition

A type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur, if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur a followed by a punisher

Respondent behavior

in classical conditioning, the association occurs between stimuli and has involuntary, automatic responses

operant behavior

operant conditioning involves voluntary behavior that operates on the environment

Law of effect

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences, become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences, become less likely

operant chamber

A chamber, also known as a Skinner box containing a bar or an animal can manipulate to obtain food or water reinforcer attach devices record the animals rate of bar, pressing or key pecking

shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforces guide behavior toward closer and closer, successive approximation of the desired behavior

discriminative stimulus

A stimulus that elects a response after association with reinforcement and contrast to related stimuli, not associated with reinforcement

Reinforcement

An event that strengthens the behavior it follows

Positive reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus

Negative reinforcement

removing an aversive stimulus

primary reinforcer

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

secondary reinforcer

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

Reinforcement schedule

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

continuous reinforcement schedule

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial intermittent reinforcement schedule

Reinforcing a response, only part of the time results and slow acquisition of a response, but much greater resistance to extinction then does continuous reinforcement

fixed ratio schedule

Reinforcing a response only after a specified number of responses

variable ratio schedule

Reinforcing a response after an unpredictable number of responses

fixed interval schedule

Reinforcing a response only after a specified time has elapsed

variable interval schedule

Reinforcing a response to unpredictable time intervals

punishment

An event that weakens the behavior follows

positive punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus

Negative punishment

Removing a rewarding stimulus

biological preparedness

A biological predisposition to learn associations that have survival value

instinctive drift

The tendency of learned behavior to gradually revert to biological predisposed patterns

Learned helpless

The hopelessness and passive resignation, humans and other animals learn when unable to avoid repeated aversive events