Learning & Conditioning

Chapter 3 — Foundations

• Elicited Behavior
  • Definition: Automatic reflexive responses triggered by stimuli.
• Habituation
  • Definition: Decrease in response strength after repeated exposure to a stimulus.
• Sensitization
  • Definition: Increase in response strength after repeated exposure to a stimulus.
• Opponent Process Theory
  • Concept: Emotional reactions are followed by opposite emotional processes that strengthen with repetition.
  • A-process
  • Definition: Initial emotional reaction to a stimulus.
  • B-process
  • Definition: Opposite emotional reaction that follows the A-process.
• Stimulus
  • Definition: An event that influences behavior.
• Response
  • Definition: A reaction to a stimulus.
• Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
  • Definition: A stimulus that naturally produces a response without learning.
• Unconditioned Response (UR)
  • Definition: An automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Chapter 4 — Classical Conditioning Processes

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
  • Definition: A previously neutral stimulus that gains meaning through association.
• Conditioned Response (CR)
  • Definition: A learned response to a conditioned stimulus.
• Delay Conditioning
  • Definition: The conditioned stimulus begins before the unconditioned stimulus and overlaps with it.
• Trace Conditioning
  • Definition: The conditioned stimulus ends before the unconditioned stimulus begins.
• Simultaneous Conditioning
  • Definition: The conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus occur at the same time.
• Backward Conditioning
  • Definition: The unconditioned stimulus occurs before the conditioned stimulus.
• Interstimulus Interval (ISI)
  • Definition: The time between the onset of the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus.
• Pseudoconditioning
  • Definition: An increase in response that looks like conditioning but is actually sensitization.
• Acquisition
  • Definition: The initial learning phase when the CS and US are paired.
• Asymptote
  • Definition: The maximum level of learning reached.
• Extinction
  • Definition: Decrease in the conditioned response when the CS is presented without the US.
• Spontaneous Recovery
  • Definition: Reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period following extinction.
• Stimulus Generalization
  • Definition: Responding to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.
• Generalization Gradient
  • Definition: The strength of response based on similarity to the CS.
• Latent Inhibition
  • Definition: Slower conditioning due to prior exposure to the CS alone.
• Second-Order Conditioning
  • Definition: A conditioned stimulus is paired with a new stimulus to create another conditioned stimulus.
• Sensory Preconditioning
  • Definition: Two neutral stimuli are paired before one is conditioned with a US.
• US Revaluation
  • Definition: Changing the value of the US changes the conditioned response.
• Overshadowing
  • Definition: When two stimuli are presented together and the more salient one dominates learning.
• Blocking
  • Definition: Prior learning about one stimulus prevents learning about another stimulus.
• Occasion Setting
  • Definition: A stimulus signals when a CS–US relationship applies.

Chapter 5 — Theories & Applications

• Stimulus Substitution Theory
  • Concept: The CS becomes a substitute for the US and produces a similar response.
• Preparatory Response Theory
  • Concept: The conditioned response prepares the organism for the US.
• Compensatory Response Theory
  • Concept: The conditioned response prepares to counteract the effects of the US.
• Aversion Therapy
  • Definition: A conditioning procedure used to reduce unwanted behaviors by pairing them with unpleasant stimuli.

Chapter 6 — Operant Conditioning

• Operant Conditioning
  • Definition: Learning where behavior is influenced by its consequences.
• Emitted Behavior
  • Definition: Voluntary behavior that operates on the environment.
• Law of Effect
  • Definition: Behavior is strengthened or weakened by its consequences.
• Reinforcement
  • Definition: A consequence that increases behavior.
• Punishment
  • Definition: A consequence that decreases behavior.
• Positive Reinforcement
  • Definition: Adding a stimulus to increase behavior.
• Negative Reinforcement
  • Definition: Removing a stimulus to increase behavior.
• Positive Punishment
  • Definition: Adding a stimulus to decrease behavior.
• Negative Punishment
  • Definition: Removing a stimulus to decrease behavior.
• Antecedent
  • Definition: The situation or cue that occurs before a behavior.
• Behavior
  • Definition: The action performed.
• Consequence
  • Definition: The result that follows behavior.
• Discriminative Stimulus (SD)
  • Definition: A cue that signals when reinforcement is available.
• Operant Extinction
  • Definition: Decrease in behavior when reinforcement stops.
• Shaping
  • Definition: Gradual learning through reinforcement of successive approximations.
• Primary Reinforcer
  • Definition: A stimulus that is naturally reinforcing, such as food or water.
• Secondary Reinforcer
  • Definition: A learned reinforcer associated with primary reinforcers.
• Generalized Reinforcer
  • Definition: A secondary reinforcer associated with many reinforcers (e.g., money, tokens).
• Token Economy
  • Definition: A behavior modification system using tokens as reinforcement.

Chapter 7 — Schedules of Reinforcement

• Reinforcement Schedule
  • Definition: Rules that determine when reinforcement is delivered.
• Continuous Reinforcement
  • Definition: Reinforcement occurs after every behavior.
• Intermittent Reinforcement
  • Definition: Reinforcement occurs only sometimes.
• Fixed Ratio (FR)
  • Definition: Reinforcement after a fixed number of responses.
• Variable Ratio (VR)
  • Definition: Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses.
• Fixed Interval (FI)
  • Definition: Reinforcement after a fixed amount of time.
• Variable Interval (VI)
  • Definition: Reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time.
• Post-Reinforcement Pause (PRP)
  • Definition: A pause in responding after reinforcement is delivered.
• Break-and-Run Pattern
  • Definition: A high response rate with pauses seen in fixed ratio schedules.
• Scalloped Pattern
  • Definition: Increasing response rate as time approaches reinforcement in fixed interval schedules.
• Ratio Schedule
  • Definition: Reinforcement based on the number of responses.
• Interval Schedule
  • Definition: Reinforcement based on time.
• Fixed Schedule
  • Definition: Reinforcement occurs predictably.
• Variable Schedule
  • Definition: Reinforcement occurs unpredictably.
• Resistance to Extinction
  • Definition: Persistence of behavior after reinforcement stops.

OPTIONAL EXTRA CARDS (HIGH VALUE)

• Classical Conditioning
  • Definition: Learning through association between stimuli.
• Operant Conditioning
  • Definition: Learning through consequences of behavior.
• Primary vs Secondary Reinforcer
  • Definition: Primary is biological; secondary is learned.
• Positive vs Negative
  • Definition: Positive adds a stimulus; negative removes a stimulus.
• Reinforcement vs Punishment
  • Definition: Reinforcement increases behavior; punishment decreases behavior.
• Ratio vs Interval
  • Definition: Ratio depends on responses; interval depends on time.