Untitled Flashcards Set

Habituation – Decreased response to a repeated stimulus over time.

Dishabituation – Renewed response to a stimulus after a change in environment or interruption.

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov) – Learning through association, where a neutral stimulus becomes linked to an automatic response.

• Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – A stimulus that naturally triggers a response (e.g., food causing salivation).

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with the US, triggers a learned response (e.g., bell causing salivation).

Second-Order Conditioning – When a new neutral stimulus is paired with an existing conditioned stimulus, creating another level of learned response.

Stimulus Generalization – Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination (as a stimulus) – Learning to distinguish between different stimuli and responding only to the specific conditioned stimulus.

Extinction – The weakening or disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery – The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a pause.

Operant Conditioning – Learning through consequences, where behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment.

Thorndike’s Law of Effect – Behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely.

Reinforcers – Consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Punishers – Consequences that decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Fixed Ratio Schedules – Reinforcement is given after a set number of responses (e.g., earning a reward after every five tasks).

Variable Interval Schedules – Reinforcement is given at unpredictable time intervals (e.g., checking for a random email response).

Shaping – Gradually reinforcing closer and closer approximations to a desired behavior.

Behaviorism vs. Cognitivism – Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior and conditioning, while cognitivism emphasizes mental processes like thinking and memory.

Observational Learning – Learning by watching others and imitating their actions.

Constructivism – Learning as an active process where individuals build their understanding based on experiences.

Humanism – Learning centered on personal growth, emotions, and self-actualization.