All Unit Vocabulary

learning

learning

process of acquiring new + relatively enduring info/behaviors (263)

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together (264)

classical conditioning

associate two stimuli to anticipate events (264)

operant conditioning

associate behavior and consequence(s) (264)

stimulus (stimuli)

event/situation that evokes response (264)

cognitive learning

acquire mental info, by using observational learning, that guides behaviors (265)

observational learning

learning from others’ experiences (265)

behaviorism

the view that (1. psych should be an objective science) vs (2. psych studies behavior w/o reference to mental processes) [266]

habituation

organism’s decreasing response to stimulus w/ repeated exposure to it (264)

neutral stimulus (NS)

elicits no response, BEFORE conditioning (266)

unconditioned stimulus (US)

naturally/automatically triggers a response (267)

unconditioned response (UR)

unlearned/natural occurring response to unconditioned stimulus (US) (267)

conditioned stimulus (CS)

neutral stimulus ALONE now produces conditioned response (CR) (267)

conditioned response (CR)

the learned response to previously neutral stimulus (NS)

acquisition

(1. CC: initial stage when NS links to US, making it a CS) (2. OC: strengthening of reinforced response) [268]

higher-order conditioning

after already being conditioned w/ first CS, one conditioning experience is paired w/ new NS creating a, usually weaker, CS (267)

extinction

diminishing/diminished CR after repeatedly occurring CS, but no expected outcome (269)

spontaneous recovery

reappearance (after pause) of an extinguished CR (269)

generalization

(once CR established) tendency to respond to stimuli that’s similar to CS (269)

discrimination

learned ability to distinguish between CS and other irrelevant stimuli (270)

operant conditioning

behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcer OR diminished if followed by punisher (275)

law of effect (Edward L. Thorndike)

behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely / behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely (275)

operant chamber/Skinner Box

box w/ animal in it ; box includes things for animal to manipulate to obtain food/water/reinforcer, devices to record actions

discriminative stimulus

stimulus that elicits response after association w/ reinforcement (277) / specific cue that signals individual that particular behavior will be reinforced/punished (Golden Steps ABA)

shaping

reinforcers guide actions toward desired behavior, utilize method of successive approximations (278)

reinforcement

any event that encourages behavior it follows / strengthens AKA increases frequency of a response (276)

positive reinforcement

add desirable stimulus/increasing behavior by presenting positive reinforcers (277-278)

negative reinforcement

remove aversive/unwanted stimulus/increasing behavior by stopping or reducing negative event (278)

primary reinforcer

unlearned, innately reinforcing stimulus; like one that satisfies a biological need (278)

conditioned/secondary reinforcer

gains reinforcing power thru association w/ primary reinforcer (278)

partial/intermittent reinforcement

reinforcing response only some of the time; not always, but not never (279)

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing desired response every time it occurs (more prone to extinction if not constant) [279]

reinforcement schedules

pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced (279)

fixed-ratio schedules

reinforce behavior after a set # of responses (279)

variable-ratio schedules

behavior is reinforced after random # of responses (Simple Psychology)

fixed-interval schedules

reinforces response only after a specific time has passed/elapsed (280)

variable-interval schedules

reinforces response at random, unpredictable time intervals (280)

punishment

event that decreases behavior it follows (281)

positive punishment

administer aversive (unwanted) stimulus (281)

negative punishment

withdraw/take away a rewarding stimulus (281)

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as automatic response to stimulus (289)

operant behavior

associate one’s own behaviors in environment to produce rewarding/punishing stimuli (289)

biofeedback

system for electronically recording, amplifying, feeding back info-- regarding a physiological state (ex. blood pressure, muscle tension) [289]

observational/social learning

learning by observing others, learning w/o direct experience (304)

modeling

process of observing and then imitating specific behavior (304)

vicarious reinforcement/punishment

after observing good/bad consequences from others, subject will be more OR less likely to imitate the same behavior (304)

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that are believed to fire up when performing certain actions OR when observing another doing so (305)

theory of mind

brains enable their empathy and their ability to infer another’s mental state (307)

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior (307)

behavior modeling

ppl can observe skills being modeled effectively by experienced workers/actors simulating them (307)

taste aversion

if sickened after trying new food, they will avoid it thereafter (293)

instinctive drift

animals revert to their biologically predisposed patterns (296)

cognitive processes

thoughts, perceptions, expectations (296); series of chemical + electrical signals that occur in brain that allow one to comprehend environment and gain knowledge (indeed.com)

latent learning

learning becomes apparent only when there is incentive to demonstrate (297)

insight (learning)

sudden realization of a problem’s solution / little to no systematic interaction w environment (297)

intrinsic motivation

desire to perform behavior effectively for own sake (297)

extrinsic motivation

desire to perform behavior to receive rewards or avoid punishment (298)

overjustification

overuse of bribes, leading one to see their actions as externally controlled rather than internally appealing (297)

cognitive map

mental representation of layout of environment (297)

coping

alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods (298)

problem-focused coping

alleviate stress directly by changing stressor/the way one interacts w it (298)

emotion-focused coping

alleviate stress by avoiding/ignoring stressor + attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress (298)

learned helplessness

hopelessness + passive resignation that an organism learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events (299)

self-control

ability to control impulses + delay short term gratification for greater long term rewards (301)

external locus of control

perception that fates are determined by chance/outside forces beyond one’s personal control (300)

internal locus of control

perception that one controls their own fate (300)

rote learning

repetition and memorization

abstract learning

utilization of Rote Learning; skill gained by insight/understanding

mechanical solution

achieved by trial and error

solution by understanding

deeper comprehension of problem