psych 4 js incase

Acquisition

The stage when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response (e.g., food).

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A natural, unlearned reaction to the UCS (e.g., salivation).

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after association, triggers a response (e.g., bell).

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating to bell).

Extinction

The weakening of the conditioned response when the CS is no longer paired with the UCS.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished response after a rest period.

Stimulus Discrimination

The learned ability to respond only to a specific stimulus.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A new neutral stimulus becomes a CS by being paired with an existing CS.

Counterconditioning

Replacing an undesired response with a positive one (used in therapy).

One-Trial Conditioning

Learning that happens after a single pairing (e.g., taste aversion).

Biological Preparedness

Some associations are more easily learned due to evolution (e.g., taste → nausea).

Habituation

Decreased response after repeated exposure to a non-threatening stimulus.

Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated.

Reinforcement

Increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Punishment

Decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something pleasant to increase behavior (e.g., praise).

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior (e.g., stopping an alarm).

Positive Punishment

Adding something unpleasant to decrease behavior (e.g., scolding).

Negative Punishment

Removing something pleasant to decrease behavior (e.g., taking away phone).

Primary Reinforcers

Naturally rewarding (food, water, warmth).

Secondary Reinforcers

Learned value (money, praise, grades).

Reinforcement Discrimination

Learning which specific behaviors are reinforced.

Reinforcement Generalization

Similar behaviors also get reinforced.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive steps toward a target behavior.

Instinctive Drift

Tendency for learned behavior to revert to instinctive patterns.

Learned Helplessness

Giving up after repeated failure; belief that effort won’t change outcomes.

Continuous Reinforcement

Behavior is reinforced every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Behavior is reinforced only some of the time (more resistant to extinction).

Reinforcement Schedules

Patterns that determine when reinforcement is given.

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reward after a set amount of time (e.g., paycheck every 2 weeks).

Variable-Interval Schedule

Reward after varying time intervals (e.g., checking for messages).

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reward after a fixed number of responses (e.g., free coffee after 10 purchases).

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reward after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., slot machine).

Insight Learning

Sudden realization of how to solve a problem (“Aha!” moment).

Latent Learning

Learning that isn’t shown until there’s a reason to demonstrate it.

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of spatial environments (e.g., knowing your way home).

Social Learning Theory (Bandura)

Learning through observation and imitation of others.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning by observing others’ rewards or punishments.

Model

The person whose behavior is observed and imitated.