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
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
behaviorism
the view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with first claim, but not second
unconditioned response
unlearned, naturally occurring responses to unconditioned stimulus
unconditioned stimulus
stimulus that unconditionally triggers a response
conditioned response
learned response to a previously neutral stimulus
conditioned stimulus
originally, irrelevant stimulus, that after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
acquisition
initial stage in cc when one links a neutral stimulus to an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response
high-order conditioning
procedure in which conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second conditioned stimulus
extinction
diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus
spontaneous recovery
reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
generalization
tendency once a response has been conditioned for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses
discrimination
cc, learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
operant conditioning
type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
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
(skinner box) a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food, or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking
shaping
operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of desired behavior
reinforcer
operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
positive reinforcement
presenting positive stimuli
negative reinforcement
increasing behavior by stopping or removing negative stimuli
primary reinforcer
innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
conditioned reinforcer
stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; 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 continuous reinforcement
fixed-ratio schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
fixed-interval schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
variable-interval schedule
reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
punishment
an even that decreases the behavior that it follows
positive punishment
administer an aversive stimulus (parking ticket)
negative punishment
withdraw a desirable stimulus (revoked driver's license)
cognitive map
mental representation of layout of one's environment.
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
intrinsic motivation
desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment
observational learning
learning by observing others
modeling
process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
prosocial behavior
positive, constructive, helpful behavior, opposite of antisocial behavior