Conditioning and Learning

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lesson on classical and operant conditioning, their terminology, and their effects on learning and behavior.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process in which an initially neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them, such as rewards or punishments.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit a conditioned response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior conditioning.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus) that occurs after conditioning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus, such as drooling in response to food.

Reinforcer

Any consequence of a behavior that strengthens that behavior or increases its likelihood of occurrence.

Punisher

A consequence that decreases the strength of a behavior when it is made contingent on that behavior.

Vicarious Reinforcement

Learning that occurs by observing the reinforcement or punishment of another person.

Taste Aversion Learning

The phenomenon where an organism learns to avoid a taste after it is associated with sickness.

Extinction

The reduction of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause following extinction.

Blocking

A phenomenon in classical conditioning where a previously learned association prevents the conditioning of a new stimulus when both are presented together.

Preparedness

The concept that certain associations are more easily learned due to an organism's evolutionary history.

Social Models

Individuals who serve as a reference for observational learning, usually with higher status or authority.

Observational Learning

A form of learning that occurs through watching the behavior of others and the outcomes of those behaviors.

Discriminative Stimulus

A stimulus that signals when a behavior will be reinforced, thus controlling the behavior.

Prediction Error

The difference between the expected outcome and the actual outcome during conditioning.