AP Psychology Vocab List #7 (Unit 6 Learning)

classical conditioning

Learning in which one learns to associate a stimuli with a response and anticipate events

unconditioned stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response

unconditioned response (UR)

An unlearned, naturally occurring response to a naturally occurring stimulus

neutral stimulus (NS)

Stimulus that elicits no response

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the US, produces a learned response

conditioned response (CR)

A learned reflex that results from a conditioned stimulus

stimulus generalization

Making the same conditioned response to a stimulus that is similar, but different, to the conditioned stimulus

stimulus discrimination

the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response when a US does not follow a CS, or when a response is no longer reinforced

reinforcer

An event or object that, when following a response, strengthens the behavior

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

higher-order conditioning

Occurs when a strongly conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus creating a second conditioned stimulus

conditioned emotional response

A feeling that gets associated with a particular stimulus (i.e., fear of dogs)

taste aversion

A learned, negative response to a particular food after a negative experience with that taste

biological preparedness

The tendency of animals to develop certain fears (i.e. aversion to poison, fear of predators) because of the survival benefits of those fears

operant conditioning

The learning of conscious, voluntary behavior through the effects of rewards and punishments

Thorndike's Law of Effect

Tendency for behaviors to increase when they are followed by pleasant consequences and decrease when followed by unpleasant consequences

primary reinforcer

Any stimulus that is naturally rewarding (like food) that serves a biological need

conditioned (secondary) reinforcer

Reinforcements that become desirable to us through learning (like money or grades)

positive reinforcement

A pleasant consequence occurring after a desired behavior which has the effect of increasing the likelihood the behavior will reoccur

negative reinforcement

The removal of a negative stimulus to increase the likelihood the behavior (i.e. nagging)

punishment

Any stimulus or event that, when it follows a behavior, makes it less likely to happen again

positive punishment

Weakening a response by applying a negative stimulus after an undesired behavior has occurred (i.e. yelling)

negative punishment

Weakening a response by removing a positive stimulus after an undesired behavior (no phone)

acquisition

In classical conditioning, the period of time when the neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus are being paired together

Operant Chamber (Skinner Box)

A special container in which an animal manipulates a bar or key to learn new behaviors through reinforcement

shaping

Teaching complex behaviors by reinforcing closer and closer approximations until the complex behavior is learned

discriminative stimulus

Any stimulus that becomes associated with and is associated with a particular response (i.e., red octagon = stop)

Behaviorism

Psychological perspective primarily concerned with how we learn to act and think through our interaction with our environment and focuses on observable behavior

learning

a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience

habituation

decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.