Psych Unit 3
Ivan Pavlov – A Russian physiologist known for discovering classical conditioning through his experiments with dogs.
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) – A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response (e.g., food causing salivation in dogs).
Unconditioned response (UCR) – The natural, unlearned response to the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivation when food is presented).
Neutral stimulus (NS) – A stimulus that initially produces no specific response (e.g., a bell before conditioning).
Conditioned stimulus (CS) – A previously neutral stimulus that, after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response (e.g., a bell after conditioning).
Conditioned response (CR) – A learned response to a previously neutral but now conditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating at the sound of a bell).
Acquisition – The process of learning a new conditioned response by repeatedly pairing the neutral stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
Generalization – When a subject responds to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus (e.g., a dog salivating to a different-sounding bell).
Extinction – The weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus.
Discrimination – The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous recovery – The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest.
John Watson – A psychologist who founded behaviorism, emphasizing observable behavior over internal mental states.
Little Albert Experiment – A study by Watson and Rayner in which a baby, Albert, was conditioned to fear a white rat by pairing it with loud noises.
B.F. Skinner – A psychologist known for operant conditioning and the Skinner box experiment, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment in behavior.
Positive reinforcement – Adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., giving candy for good behavior).
Negative reinforcement – Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., taking painkillers to relieve a headache).
Positive punishment – Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., giving a fine for speeding).
Negative punishment – Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., taking away a toy for bad behavior).
Observational learning – Learning by watching others and imitating their behavior.
Albert Bandura – A psychologist known for the social learning theory, which states that people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling.
Bobo Doll Experiment – A study by Bandura demonstrating that children imitate aggressive behavior they observe in adults.
Learned helplessness (Seligman) – A concept developed by Martin Seligman where individuals learn to feel helpless after repeated failures or exposure to uncontrollable events.
Information processing model – A framework that compares human memory to a computer, involving encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.
Encoding – The process of converting information into a form that can be stored in memory.
Sensory memory – The shortest-lasting memory that holds sensory information for a few seconds or less.
Short-term memory (STM) – Holds a limited amount of information for a short duration (about 20-30 seconds).
Long-term memory (LTM) – Stores information indefinitely with an unlimited capacity.
Recognition – Identifying previously learned information (e.g., multiple-choice test).
Recall – Retrieving information without cues (e.g., essay test).
Chunking – Grouping information into meaningful units to enhance memory (e.g., remembering a phone number in sections).
Mnemonic devices – Memory aids, such as acronyms or rhymes, that help recall information (e.g., "HOMES" for the Great Lakes).
Maintenance rehearsal – Repeating information to keep it in short-term memory longer.
Decay theory – Memory fades over time if not accessed.
Interference:
Retroactive interference – New information interferes with old information.
Proactive interference – Old information interferes with new learning.
Semantic memory – Memory of general knowledge, facts, and concepts (e.g., knowing the capital of France).
Episodic memory – Memory of personal experiences and specific events (e.g., remembering your last birthday).
Procedural memory – Memory of motor skills and how to perform tasks (e.g., riding a bike).
Noam Chomsky (innate) – A linguist who proposed that humans have an innate ability to acquire language, known as the Language Acquisition Device (LAD), supporting the idea that language learning is biologically preprogrammed.