LAP 3: Learning and Memory Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering conditioning theories, memory stages, thinking processes, and language components from the LAP 3 review guide.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.

Classical Conditioning

A learning theory (also known as associative learning) focused on predicting and controlling events, which produces automatic, involuntary responses in a passive learner.

Generalization

The tendency for a conditioned stimulus to evoke similar responses after the response has been conditioned.

Discrimination

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

Extinction

The process that occurs when a learned behavior decreases or disappears.

Spontaneous Recovery

The sudden return of a previously extinguished learned behavior after a break.

Operant Conditioning

A learning theory developed by BF Skinner where an action is reinforced or punished in an attempt to increase or decrease a voluntary behavior.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood that a behavior will happen again.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will happen again.

Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment

A study where Albert Bandura showed children an adult acting aggressively toward an inflatable Bobo doll; children who observed the aggressive adult were more likely to imitate the aggressive behavior.

Social-Cognitive Learning

Learning by watching and imitating others, as well as observing the consequences of their behavior.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching others.

Modeling

The act of imitating a behavior that you observe in others.

Learned Helplessness

A condition that occurs when someone feels they have no control over a situation and stops trying to change it.

Memory

The persistence of learning over time through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.

Sensory Memory

The stage of memory that holds virtually everything seen or heard for less than $1\,\text{second}$.

Short-Term Memory

The stage of memory that holds a small amount of information (about $7 \pm 2$ items) briefly for less than $20\,\text{seconds}$ if not rehearsed.

Long-Term Memory

The stage of memory storage with a vast, infinite capacity that stores information for a long period of time, potentially for a lifetime.

Maintenance Rehearsal

The process of repeating information over and over to keep it active in short-term memory.

Chunking

The process of grouping information into smaller, meaningful units to make it easier to remember.

Mnemonics

Memory tricks, such as acronyms, rhymes, or phrases, used to make information easier to remember.

Primacy-Recency Effect

The tendency to remember the first and last items in a list better than the items in the middle.

Recall

Retrieving stored information from memory without any hints.

Recognition

Identifying information when you see it or when you are provided with clues.

Semantic Memory

Memory of facts, concepts, and general knowledge, such as knowing that Paris is the capital of France.

Episodic Memory

Memory of personal experiences and events, such as remembering your first day of high school.

Procedural Memory

Memory for how to do things or perform skills, such as riding a bike, tying your shoes, or playing tennis.

Elaborative Rehearsal

The technique of connecting new information to what you already know to help you remember it better.

Thinking

The mental process of using information, memories, and experiences to understand, solve problems, and make decisions.

Units of Thought

The concepts, images, and language used to organize information and think about ideas.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to look for or believe information that supports what you already think while ignoring information that disagrees with you.

Functional Fixedness

The inability to see alternative uses for an object beyond its usual, intended function.

Language

A system of spoken, written, or signed words and rules used to communicate with others.

Phonemes

The smallest units of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word, such as the /b/ and /p/ sounds in 'bat' and 'pat.'

Morphemes

The smallest units of language that carry meaning, including whole words or word parts like the prefix 'un-' in 'unhappy.'

Syntax

The set of rules for arranging words into sentences so that they make sense.

Semantics

The study and system of meaning in words and sentences within a language.

Operant Conditioning Example

An example of operant conditioning in my life is dance. When I learn a new dance and practice it correctly, my dance teacher gives me praise and positive feedback. This is positive reinforcement because something good is added to encourage me to keep practicing and improving. Over time, I have learned to work harder and practice more because I know my effort can lead to positive feedback.