acquisition
the initial stage of learning something
aversive conditioning
conditioning involving an unpleasant or harmful unconditioned stimulus or reinforcer
avoidance learning
an organism acquires a response that prevents some aversive stimulation from occurring
behavior modification
a systematic approach to changing behavior through the application of the principles of conditioning
behavioral contract
a written agreement outlining a promise to adhere to the contingencies of a behavior modification program
behaviorism
The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science and (2) emphasizes observabable behavior (not mental processes) that can be objectively measured. Emerged from the pioneering work of Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner.
chaining
used to establish a specific sequence of behaviors by initially positively reinforcing each behavior in a desired sequence, then later rewarding only the completed sequence
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus. Also called Pavlovian conditioning
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of one's environment
conditioned response
a learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning
conditioned stimulus
a previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response
conditioning
learning associations between events that occur in an organism's environment (if this, then that; first this, then that; if not this, the not that)
continuous reinforcement
occurs when every instance of a designated response is reinforced
cumulative recorder
creates a graphic record of responding and reinforcement in a Skinner box as a function of time
discriminative stimuli
cues that influence operant behavior by indicating the probable consequences (reinforcement or nonreinforcement) of a response
elicit
to draw forth
emit
to send forth
escape learning
an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation
evaluative conditioning
efforts to transfer the emotion attached to a US to a new CS
extinction
the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency
fixed-interval schedule
the reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed interval has elapsed
fixed-ratio schedule
the reinforcer is given after a fixed number of nonreinforced responses
habituation
an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it
higher-order conditioning
a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus
intermittent reinforcement
occurs when a designated response is reinforced only some of the time
latent learning
learning that is not apparent from behavior when it first occurs; it becomes apparent when there is a reson todemonstrate it.
learned helplessness
the feeling of futility and passive resignation that results from the inability to avoid repeated aversive events
learning
any relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience
negative punishment
taking away a stimulus that weakens a response and makes it less likely to recur
negative reinforcement
occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus
observational learning
occurs when an organism's responding is influenced by the observation followed by imitation of others, who are called models
Skinner box
a small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is recorded while the consequences of the response are systematically controlled
operant conditioning
a form of learning in which responses come to be controlled by their consequences
phobias
irrational fears of specific objects or situations
positive punishment
adding an aversive stimulus that weakens a response and makes it less likely to recur
positive reinforcement
occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus
preparedness
species-specific predispositions to be conditioned in certain ways and not others
primary reinforcers
events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs
punishment
occurs when an event following a response weakens the tendency to make that response; a process in which behavior is followed by an aversive consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated
reinforcement
occurs when an event following a response increases an organism's tendency to make that response; a favorable outcome that strengthens a response tendency
reinforcement contingencies
the circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcers
renewal effect
if a response is extinguished in a different environment than it was acquired, the extinguished response will reappear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place
resistance to extinction
occurs when an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer has been terminated
schedule of reinforcement
determines which occurrences of a specific response result in the presentation of a reinforcer
secondary reinforcers
events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers
shaping
the reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of nonexposure to the conditioned stimulus
stimulus discrimination
occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus
stimulus generalization
occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus
Thorndike's law
if a response in the presence of a stimulus leads to satisfying effects, the association between the stimulus and the response is strengthened
trial
in classical conditioning, any presentation of a stimulus or pair of stimuli
unconditioned response
an unlearned reaction to an unconditioned stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning
variable-interval schedule
the reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed
variable-ratio schedule
the reinforcer is given after a variable number of non-reinforced responses