AP Psychology: Development & Learning

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to development and learning in AP Psychology, including types of conditioning, reinforcement, and learning theories.

Classical Conditioning

A learning method where we associate two stimuli, enabling us to anticipate events.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

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

Unconditioned Response (UR)

A natural and automatic reaction to a stimulus that occurs without any prior learning or conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus, evokes a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

A learned response that occurs when a conditioned stimulus is presented, resulting from the association with an unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The process in which the conditioned response weakens and eventually disappears when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest, suggesting that extinction does not erase the association but suppresses it temporarily.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond differently to them, learned through the conditioning process.

Stimulus Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, as a result of the conditioning process.

Higher-Order Conditioning

A process where a previously conditioned stimulus is used to create further associations with new neutral stimuli, resulting in those stimuli also eliciting a conditioned response.

Counterconditioning

Changing a learned response to something more preferred by pairing it with a different experience.

Taste Aversion

A learned association between the taste of a particular food and feeling sick, often occurring after only one pairing.

One-Trial Conditioning

Learning that happens quickly after just one pairing of two things.

Biological Preparedness

The innate tendency of organisms to quickly learn associations between certain stimuli and responses that are relevant to their survival.

Social Learning Theory

Theory that emphasizes the importance of observing, imitating, and modeling behaviors, as well as the role of cognitive processes, in learning from others.

Vicarious Conditioning

Learning by observing the consequences of others' actions, without directly experiencing those consequences oneself.

Insight Learning

A sudden understanding of a problem or situation that leads to a solution without prior trial and error.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement or motivation, but is not demonstrated until there is a reason to do so.

Cognitive Maps

Mental representations of spatial relationships or layouts, allowing individuals to navigate and understand their environment.

Shaping

Gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired behavior, leading to the development of a complex behavior or skill.

Reinforcement

Any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again in the future.

Positive Reinforcement

Presenting a desirable stimulus after a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior happening again in the future.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus after a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior happening again in the future.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus after a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior happening again in the future.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus after a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior happening again in the future.