question

Learning

answer

A relatively long last lasting change in behavior resulting from experience

question

Habituation

answer

An organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

question

Classical Conditioning

answer

A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate a neutral stimuli with a stimuli that produce reflexive, voluntary responses. and will learn to respond similarly to the new stimulus as they did to the old one. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.

question

Unconditioned Stimulus (US/UCS)

answer

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning

question

Unconditioned Response (UR/UCR)

answer

In classical conditioning, an unlearned response elicited by the presentation of an unconditioned stimulus.

question

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

answer

A previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response.

question

Conditioned Response

answer

In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).

question

Aquisition

answer

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditional response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

question

Delayed Conditioning

answer

In Pavlovian conditioning, learning that takes place when the conditioned stimulus is presented just before the unconditioned stimulus is presented and continues until the organism begins responding to the unconditioned stimulus

question

Trace Conditioning

answer

the presentation of the CS, followed by a short break, followed by the presentation of the US

question

Simultaneous Conditioning

answer

The UCS and CS are presented at the same time.

question

Backward Conditioning

answer

CS presented after UCS; proven ineffective; accomplishes only inhibitory conditioning, causes a harder time pairing CS with UCS later even with forward conditioning

question

Extinction

answer

The process of unlearning a behavior

question

Spontaneous Recovery

answer

Recurrence of an extinguished conditioned response, usually following a rest period

question

Generalization

answer

transfer of a response associated with one stimulus to a similar stimulus

question

Discrimination

answer

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.

question

Aversive Conditioning

answer

A type of counter-conditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)

question

Second-order/Higher-order Conditionng

answer

Once a CS elicits a CR, the ability to use a CS as an US to create a response to something else

question

Operant Conditioning

answer

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

question

Law of Effect

answer

Thorndike's Principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely. A.K.A. Instrumental Learning

question

Operant Chamber

answer

A chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

question

Reinforcer

answer

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

question

Positive Reinforcement

answer

Increasing behaviors through the addition of something pleasant such as food; any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

question

Negative Reinforcement

answer

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock; any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

question

Escape Learning

answer

An organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation (ex: a loud noise is stopped every time a rat presses a lever)

question

Avoidance Learning

answer

Enables one to avoid an aversive stimulus altogether rather than just escape

question

Punishment

answer

An event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

question

Positive Punishment

answer

following an undesired response by adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood of the behavior reoccuring

question

Negative Punishment

answer

Decreasing behavior by stopping or reducing positive stimuli (A.K.A. Omission Training)

question

Shaping

answer

An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

question

Chaining

answer

A process in which subjects are taught to perform a number of responses successively in order to get a reward.

question

Discriminative Stimulus

answer

A specific stimulus in the presence of which a particular response is more likely to be reinforced, and in the absence of which a particular response is not reinforced (only performing an action when a stimulus is present).

question

Primary Reinforcers

answer

Events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs

question

Secondary Reinforcers

answer

Learned reinforcers that develop their reinforcing properties because of their association with primary reinforcers (A.K.A. conditioned reinforcer).

question

Premack Principle

answer

A principle that states that a preferred activity can be used to reinforce an activity that is not preferred (ex: giving a child candy every time he/she does their homework).

question

Continuous Reinforcement

answer

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

question

Partial Reinforcement

answer

Only occasional reinforcement of a behavior, resulting in slower extinction than if the behavior had been reinforced continually; also called Intermittent Reinforcement.

question

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

answer

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

question

Variable-Ratio Schedule

answer

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

question

Fixed-Interval Schedule

answer

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

question

Variable-Interval Schedule

answer

In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

question

Instinctive Drift

answer

Tendency for animals to return to innate behaviors following repeated reinforcement

question

Observational Learning

answer

Learning by observing others. Also called social learning

question

Modeling

answer

The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

question

Latent Learning

answer

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

question

Abstract Learning

answer

involves understanding of concepts rather than learning simply to perform an action in order to secure a reward

question

Mirror Neurons

answer

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.

AP Psychology Unit 6: Learning Key Terms – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards