AP PSYCHOLOGY 3.7-3.9

Behavioral Psychology

The behavorial perspective evolved from theroies about learning via conditioning. Behaviorists have traditionally focused on observable behavior to the exclusion of mental processes.

Ivan Pavlov

Guy who made classical conditioning because he incidentally noticed his dog would salivate when the dog saw the food. He conditioned his dog to salivate at the sound of a bell, thus, creating classical conditioning.

Classical Conditioning

Focuses on the association of one stimulus with another stimulus to elicit a response.

unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a natural response.

Unconditioned response

naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Conditioned Stimulus

After associations with the unconditioned stimulus that gets changed by the neutral stimulus which triggers a conditioned response

Conditioned response

a learned response to a conditioned stimulus

Un conditioned stimulus goes to

Unconditioned response

Neutral stimulus goes to

No conditioned response

Unconditioned stimulus + neutral stimulus

unconditioned response

Neutral stimulus gets converted to

Conditioned response

conditioned stimulus

Conditioned response

acquisition

the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

Extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS)

spontaneous recovery

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

stimulus generalization

The tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.

stimulus discrimination

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

Higher-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus

Classical Conditioning in therapy

A psychological technique used to replace an undesirable behavior or response with a more desirable one. It involves pairing the undesiriable stimulus or situation with a positive or neutral stimulus gradually reducing the negative association and establishing a new response.

Counter conditioning

Often used in therapies for phobias, addictions, and anxiety disorders to help individuals overcome their negative response and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Taste Aversion

One of the many examples how classical conditions affects human behavior

One-Trial Conditioning

Occurs when the association is acquired through one pairing of the stimulus and response and is not strengthened by further pairings.

Biological Preparedness

How animals are biologically predisposed to learning certain stimulus-response pairings more quickly than others.

Habituation

Refers to the process by which an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus over time. Leading to a decreased response or sensitivity. This can occur with both positive and negative stimuli, such as the diminished reaction to a loud noise or the decreased enjoyment of eating a favorite food after repeated exposure. It is a natural adaptive mechanism to allocate their attention.

Edward Thorndike

Pioneer in operant conditioning who discovered concepts in intstrumental learning such as the law of effect. Known for his work with cats in puzzle boxes.

Law of effect

Any behavior that follows with a positive consequence will continue. Any behavior that follows a negative consequence will stop.

John B Watson

Believed that psychology should focus solely on observable behaviors

Little Albert Experiment

A study in which a white rat was paired with a loud sudden noise in order to condition a fear response in an infant.

BF Skinner

Studied animal behavior through classical conditioning. Believed that behavior is determined by environmental factos and can be shaped through reinforcement and punishment.

Skinner's box

Rats in the Box push a lever whenever they were hungry, where would get dispensed

Operant conditioning

A learning process that involves manipulating consequences to modify behavior. It is based on the principle that behavior is influenced by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.

Through operative conditioning, individuals con be trained to associate certain behaviors with specific outcomes, which can ultimately shape their future.

positive reinforcement

Any event that strengthens the behavior that follows. Both can be positive and negative in nature

Negative reinforcement

Any event that weakens the behavior it follows. Reinforcement can be positive and negative in nature.

Positive punishment

Involves adding aversive stimulus to decrease behavior

Giving a child a timeout for misbehaving.

Negative punishment

Involves removing to a desirable stimulus to decrease behavior

Example is raking away a teenager's phone for breaking curfew.

Primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

Example: refreshing drink on a hot day

secondary reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer

Example: money because it can be exchange for primary reinforcers

Reinforcement generalization

Occurs when a person's behavior is rewarded in one situation, and they then generalize that behavior to other similar situations, expecting the same reward.

Reinforcement discrimination

Occurs when a person is able to differentiate between different situations and only exhibits the desired behavior un certain specific circumstance where they believe they will be rewarded.

shaping

Behavioral technique that involves gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closed and closer to the desired behavior. It is commonly used in various settings such as education, parenting, and therapy to help individuals to help develop skills or modify existing behaviors.

Superstitions

Beliefs or practice that are based on irrational or supernatural explanation. Rather than evidence or reasoning.

Learned helplessness

Occurs when organism learn that they have no control over their experience of aversive experiences in a given situation.

Continuous reinforcement

Occurs when a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs, produces rapid learning and learning is prone to extinction

Partial reinforcement

Takes place when only some instance of the behavior are reinforced. It produces semi-permanent learning. Learning is not prone to extinction.

Fixed ratio

Reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses have occurred

Fixed interval

Reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified amount of time has passed.

Variable ratio

Reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after an unpredictable nu,more or responses have occurred

Variable interval

Reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Fixed

Number of time or amount of time that passes is set

Variable

Number of time or amount of time that passes is random

Interval

An amount of time needs to be passed before reinforcefd

Ratio

Behavior needs to occur a number or times before reinforcement

Albert Bandura

Canadian American Psychologist, studied learning though modeling and observation, famous for his Bobo doll experiments.

Social learning theory

Proposed that learning can occur by observation and does not have to involve personal experience with a consequence (vicarious learning), learning can occur by copying the behavior or models.

Insight learning

Occurs when the solution to a problem occurs without any association, consequence or model being present.

Latent learning

Occurs when information is learned without reinforcement but is not immediately evident

Cognitive maps

A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. These maps can help individuals make decisions and solve problems by mentally navigating through a space, even if they cannot physically see it.

Edward Tolman

Psychologist who conducted research on latent learning and cognitive maps. He conducted experiments with rats in mazes and found that they were able to learn the layout of the maze without and immediate awards.