click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Psychology
Unit 4: Learning
Term | Definition |
---|---|
learning | a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience |
associative learning | learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning). |
classical conditioning | a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or responde |
behaviorism | the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). |
unconditioned response (UR) | in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth. |
unconditioned stimulus (US) | in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response. |
conditioned response (CR) | in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS). |
conditioned stimulus (CS) | in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response. |
acquisition | the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response |
extinction | the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (UC) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced |
spontaneous recovery | the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response |
generalization | the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses |
discrimination | in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus |
operant conditioning | a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or diminished if followed by a punisher |
respondent behavior | behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner's term for behavior learned through classical conditioning |
operant behavior | behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences |
law of effect | Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely |
operant chamber | a chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforce, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key packing. Used in operant conditioning research |
shaping | an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior |
reinforcer | in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows |
positive reinforcement | increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, strengthens the reponse |
negative reinforcement | increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (negative reinforcement is not punishment) |
primary reinforcer | an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need |
conditioned reinforcer | a stimulus that gains it reinforcing power through its association with primary reinforcer; also known as secondary reinforcer |
continuous reinforcement | reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs |
partial (intermittent) reinforcement | reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continues reinforcement |
fixed-ratio schedule | is operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses |
variable-ratio schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of reponses |
fixed-interval schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elsaped |
variable-interval schedule | in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals |
punishment | an event that decreases the behavior that it follows |
cognitive map | a mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a maze rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it |
latent learning | learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it |
intrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake |
extrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment |
observational learning | learning by observing others |
modeling | the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior |
mirror neurons | frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy |