AP PSYCH VOCAB 4

Learning

Learning

Our process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors

Habituation

Decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus

Associative learning

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

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which we link the two or more stimuli; as a result, to illustrate with Pavlov’s classic experiment, the first stimulus (a tone) comes to elicit behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food)

Neutral Stimulus

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

Unconditioned Response

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salivation) to an unconditioned response (UR)

Unconditioned Stimulus

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

Acquisition

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

Higher-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

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

Operant Conditioning

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

Operant Chamber

A learning method that employs rewards and punishments for behavior

Reinforcement

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

Shaping

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

Discriminative Stimulus

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

Negative Reinforcement

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

Primary Reinforce

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

Conditioned Reinforce

A stimulus that become an effective reinforcer because of its association with a primary, or unconditioned, reinforcer

Reinforcement Schedule

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

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial Reinforcement

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

Fixed Ratio Schedule

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

Variable Interval Schedule

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

Punishment

Decreasing a behavior

Latent Learning

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

Intrinsic Motivation

A desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

Extrinsic Motivation

A desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

Learned Helplessness

The hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or person learns when unable to avoid repeated overdrive events

Internal Locus of Control

The perception that we control our own fate

Observational Learning

The process of learning by watching the behaviors of others

Modeling

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Mirror Neurons

Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe another doing so. The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy