Psychology in Everyday Life - Learning

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

Learning

Involves acquisition of new and relatively enduring information or behaviors through experience.

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together; may involve two stimuli (classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (operant conditioning).

Classical Conditioning

Learning to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events, which produces respondent behavior.

Operant Conditioning

Learning to associate an action (behavior) with its consequence; behavior is repeated if it is followed by good results.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Stimulus that evokes no response before conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Stimulus that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

Learned response to a previously neutral but now conditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The weakening of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow the conditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of a weakened conditioned response.

Generalization

The tendency to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble a conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

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

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior.

Primary Reinforcers

Unlearned and innate reinforcers that typically satisfy a biological need.

Conditioned Reinforcers (Secondary Reinforcers)

Stimuli that gain reinforcing power through their link with primary reinforcers.

Shaping Behavior

A procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior closer and closer toward a desired behavior.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others; influenced by modeling, vicarious reinforcement, or punishment.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire when one performs certain actions and when one observes others performing those actions.