Unit 07: Learning Principles Flashcards

Associative Learning

A learning process in which an association is formed between two stimuli or between a behavior and a stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

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

Conditioned Response (CR)

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

Extinction

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

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.

Generalization

The tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus.

Biological Preparedness

The idea that organisms are predisposed to learn associations that are biologically relevant.

Law of Effect

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

Skinner Box

A controlled environment for studying operant conditioning with a subject (like a rat) that can be rewarded or punished.

Positive Reinforcement

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

Negative Reinforcement

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

Positive Punishment

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

Negative Punishment

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

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.

Shaping

The process of reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior.

Fixed-ratio Schedule

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

Fixed-interval Schedule

A reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

Variable-ratio Schedule

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

Variable-interval Schedule

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

Little Albert Study

An experiment demonstrating that emotions can be conditioned; a child was trained to fear a white rat.

Taste Aversion

A learned avoidance of a specific food that has been associated with an unpleasant experience.

Learned Helplessness

A condition resulting from the perception that one has no control over their situation.

Latent Learning

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

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of physical locations that help in navigation and understanding of environments.

Insight Learning

A type of problem solving that occurs suddenly through understanding the relationships between various parts of a problem.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others, also known as social learning.

Vicarious Learning

Learning that occurs by observing the consequences of others' behaviors.

Modeling

The process of learning through the imitation of others.

Bobo Doll Study

An experiment illustrating observational learning where children imitated aggressive behavior towards a Bobo doll.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when an action is performed and when it is observed, thought to be involved in learning and imitation.

Prosocial Modeling

Demonstrating positive behaviors that can be observed and imitated by others.