Untitled Flashcards Set

Learning

The process of acquiring new information or behaviors through experience.

Behaviorism

An approach to psychology emphasizing the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment in determining behavior.

Conditioning

Learning that involves associations between environmental stimuli and the organism’s responses.

Classical Conditioning

A process by which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the capacity to elicit a response through association with a stimulus that already elicits a similar response.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that already elicits a response without additional learning.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

The response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An initially neutral stimulus that elicits a conditioned response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A response elicited by the conditioned stimulus after it has been associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a pause.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A neutral stimulus can become a conditioned stimulus by being paired with an existing conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Generalization

When a new stimulus resembling the conditioned stimulus elicits the conditioned response.

Stimulus Discrimination

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

Operant Conditioning

The process by which a response becomes more or less likely to occur depending on its consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Reinforcement Schedules

Patterns that define how often a response will be reinforced.

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Reinforces desired response every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement Schedule

Reinforces a response only some of the time.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after every nth behavior.

Variable Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of behaviors.

Fixed Interval Schedule

Reinforcement for behavior after a fixed time.

Variable Interval Schedule

Reinforcement for behavior after a random amount of time.

Cognitive Processes

Mental processes involved in learning, such as interpretation and prediction.

Social Learning Theory

Learning can occur through observation and imitation of others.

Observational Learning

Learning new responses by observing the behavior of a model rather than through direct experience.

Memory

The capacity to retain and retrieve information.

Encoding

The initial registration of information.

Storage

Maintaining information over time.

Retrieval

The ability to access information when needed.

Sensory Memory

Momentarily preserves accurate images of sensory information.

Working Memory

A limited capacity memory system for retaining information for brief periods.

Long-Term Memory

The memory system for long-term information storage with no apparent limit.

Explicit Memory

Conscious, intentional recollection of events or information.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious retention of information.

Priming

Activation of associations without awareness.

Amnesia

Partial or total loss of explicit memory.

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories after an event that caused amnesia.

Retrograde Amnesia

Inability to remember information from the past before the event causing amnesia.

Misinformation Effect

Memory is corrupted by misleading information.

Cognition

Mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Metacognition

Cognition about one's own cognition; tracking and evaluating mental processes.

Algorithm

Methodical, logical procedure that guarantees a solution to a problem.

Heuristic

Simple thinking strategy that is usually speedier but more error-prone than an algorithm.

Confirmation Bias

Predisposition to verify rather than challenge our hypotheses.

Mental Set

Tendency to approach a problem with a previously successful mindset.