Psychology Learning: Behaviorism, Classical and Operant Conditioning

Behaviorism

A psychological approach that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment as a determinant of behavior.

Conditioning

A learning process in which an organism learns to associate a stimulus with a response.

Observable Behavior

Behavior that can be seen and measured, as opposed to internal mental states.

Associative Learning

A learning process in which a new response becomes associated with a particular stimulus.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning when a response is first established and gradually strengthened.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that initially produces no specific response until it is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Response (UR)

An unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

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

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Higher-order Conditioning

A form of conditioning where a conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus no longer follows the conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

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

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus.

Counterconditioning

A behavioral therapy technique that replaces an undesirable response to a stimulus with a more desirable one.

One-trial Conditioning

A learning process in which a single pairing of a stimulus and response leads to a strong association.

Taste Aversions

A learned aversion to a particular taste that occurs after a single negative experience with that taste.

Biological Preparedness

The innate predisposition to learn certain associations more readily than others.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Reinforcement

Any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a rewarding stimulus following a desired behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an aversive stimulus following a desired behavior, increasing the likelihood of that behavior.

Primary Reinforcers

Stimuli that are naturally reinforcing because they satisfy basic biological needs.

Secondary Reinforcers

Stimuli that acquire their reinforcing power through association with primary reinforcers.

Reinforcement Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond only to those that are reinforced.

Reinforcement Generalization

The tendency for a response to be reinforced in the presence of similar stimuli.

Punishment

An event that decreases the likelihood of a behavior by presenting an aversive consequence or removing a pleasant stimulus.

Positive Punishment

The addition of an aversive stimulus following an undesired behavior, decreasing the likelihood of that behavior.

Negative Punishment

The removal of a pleasant stimulus following an undesired behavior, decreasing the likelihood of that behavior.

Law of Effect

The principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, while behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Shaping

A conditioning process in which successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced.

Successive Approximations

Small steps taken towards a desired behavior in the shaping process.

Instinctive Drift

The tendency for an animal's innate behaviors to interfere with learned behaviors.

Superstitious Behavior

Behavior that is reinforced by a coincidental association with a positive outcome.

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which an individual learns to feel helpless and passive in the face of adverse situations.

Schedule of Reinforcements

The rules that determine how and when reinforcement is delivered.

Continuous Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which every correct response is reinforced.

Partial Reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which only some responses are reinforced.

Fixed Interval

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after a specified time has elapsed.

Variable Interval

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals.

Fixed Ratio

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after a specified number of responses.

Variable Ratio

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses.

Social Learning Theory

A theory that suggests people learn from one another through observation, imitation, and modeling.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning that occurs by observing the consequences of another person's behavior.

acquisition

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

Modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Insight learning

The process of learning how to solve a problem or do something new by applying what is already known

latent learning