Learning and Conditioning

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture on learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and schedules of reinforcement.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior that occurs as the result of experience.

Non-associative learning

Learning about a single stimulus.

Habituation

A reduction in response probability to a non-changing, inconsequential stimulus.

Sensitization

An increase in response probability after a strong stimulus.

Associative learning

Learning that two events occur together, either two stimuli or a response and its consequences.

Ivan Pavlov

Russian physician/neurophysiologist who studied digestive secretions and developed the concept of classical conditioning.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process in which a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus through repeated pairing with that stimulus, also known as Pavlovian Conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that, without conditions, will elicit a predictable response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A response that, without conditions, results predictably from an unconditional stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A stimulus that will elicit a predictable response because of its previous pairing with a UCS.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A predictable response to a CS that has influence because of its pairing with a UCS.

John B. Watson

A behaviorist who viewed psychology as an objective science and recommended the study of behavior without reference to unobservable mental processes.

Acquisition (in classical conditioning)

The initial stage in classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus is associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Extinction (in classical conditioning)

The process where the CS is presented without the UCS, leading to learning that the CS no longer predicts the UCS.

Spontaneous Recovery

After a response has been extinguished, the conditioned response temporarily returns when the conditioned stimulus is presented again after a period of rest.

Generalization (in classical conditioning)

When a new stimulus, similar to the original CS, elicits the conditioned response.

Discrimination (in classical conditioning)

The learned ability to distinguish between a CS and other stimuli that do not signal a UCS.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior operates on the environment to produce consequences, strengthening the behavior if followed by a reinforcer or diminishing it if followed by a punishment.

Law of Effect (Thorndike's)

Responses accompanied by satisfaction are more likely to recur, while those followed by discomfort are less likely to recur.

B.F. Skinner

A psychologist who elaborated on Thorndike's Law of Effect and developed behavioral technology, including concepts like shaping and schedules of reinforcement.

Reinforcer

Any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

Punishment

Any consequence of behavior that decreases the likelihood of that behavior.

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer approximations of a desired goal.

Positive Reinforcement

A stimulus that, when presented, increases the likelihood of the preceding behavior (giving something good to increase behavior).

Negative Reinforcement

A stimulus that, when removed, increases the likelihood of the preceding behavior (taking away something bad to increase behavior).

Positive Punishment

A stimulus that, when presented, decreases the likelihood of the preceding behavior (giving something bad to decrease behavior).

Negative Punishment

A stimulus that, when removed, decreases the likelihood of the preceding behavior (taking away something good to decrease behavior).

Primary Reinforcers

Innate reinforcers like food or water that satisfy biological needs.

Conditioned Reinforcers (Secondary Reinforcers)

Stimuli that have been consistently paired with primary reinforcers, such as money, good grades, or praise.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a response only part of the time, leading to slower acquisition but greater resistance to extinction.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing the desired response each time it occurs.

Fixed Ratio (FR) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses, leading to very high rates of responding.

Variable Ratio (VR) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses, making it very hard to extinguish (e.g., gambling).

Fixed Interval (FI) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed, with response rates increasing as the anticipated time for reward draws near.

Variable Interval (VI) schedule

A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals, producing slow, steady responding (e.g., pop quizzes).