Psychology Core Concepts Chapter 4: Learning and Human Nature – Flashcards
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learning
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A lasting change in behaviour or mental processes that results from experience.
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habituation
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Learning not to respond to the repeated presentation of a stimulus.
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mere exposure effect
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A learned preference for stimuli to which we have been previously exposed.
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behavioral learning
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Forms of learning, such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning, that can be described in terms of stimuli and responses.
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classical conditioning
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A form of behavioral learning in which a previously neutral stimulus acquires the power to elicit the same innate reflex produced by another stimulus.
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neutral stimulus
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Any stimulus that produces no conditioned response prior to learning. When it is brought into a conditioning experiment, the researcher will call it a conditioned stimulus (CS). The assumption is that some conditioning occurs after even one pairing of the CS and UCS.
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unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
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In classical conditioning, UCS is the stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response.
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unconditioned response (UCR)
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In classical conditioning, the response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior learning.
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acquistion
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The initial learning stage in classical conditioning, during which the conditioned response comes to be elicited by the conditioned stimulus.
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conditioned stimulus (CS)
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A neutral stimulus that, after repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, becomes associated with it and elicits a conditioned response.
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conditioned response (CR)
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In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.
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extinction (in classical conditioning)
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The weakening of a conditioned response in the absence of an unconditioned stimulus
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spontaneous recovery
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The unexpected reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a time delay.
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stimulus generalization
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The extension of a learned response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.
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stimulus discrimination
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Learning to respond to particular stimulus but not to stimuli that are similar.
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operant conditioning
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A form of behavioral leaning in which the probability of a response is changed by its consequences - that is, by the stimuli that follow the response.
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law of effect
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The idea that responses that produced desirable results would be learned or "stamped" into the organism.
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reinforcer
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A condition (involving either the presentation or removal of a stimulus) that occurs after a response and strengthens that response.
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positive reinforcement
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A stimulus presented after a response and increasing the probability of that response happening again.
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negative reinforcement
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The removal of an unpleasant or aversive stimulus, contingent on a particular behaviour. Constrast with punishment.
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operant chamber
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A boxlike apparatus that can be programmed to deliver reinforce rs and punishers contingent on an animal's behaviour. The operant chamber is often called a "Skinner box".
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reinforcement contigencies
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Relationships between a response and the changes in stimulation that follow the response.
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continuous reinforcement
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A type of reinforcement schedule by which all correct responses are reinforced.
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shaping
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An operant learning technique in which a new behavior is produced by reinforcing responses that are similar to the desired response.
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intermittent reinforcement
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A type of reinforcement schedule by which some, but not all, correct responses are reinforced; also called partial reinforcement.
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extinction (in operant conditioning)
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A process by which a response that has been learned is weakened by the absence or removal of reinforcement.
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schedule of reinforcement
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A program specifying the frequency and timing of reinforcements.
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ratio schedule
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A program by which reinforcement depends on the number of correct responses.
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interval schedule
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A program by which reinforcement depends on the time interval elapsed since the last reinforcement.
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fixed ratio (FR) schedule
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A program by which reinforcement is contingent on a certain, unvarying number of responses.
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variable ratio (VR) schedule
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A reinforcement program by which the number of responses required for a reinforcement varies from trial to trial.
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fixed interval (FI) schedule
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A program by which reinforcement is contingent upon a certain, fixed time period.
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variable interval (VI) schedule
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A program by which the time period between reinforcements varies from trial to trial.
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primary reinforcer
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A reinforcer, such as food or sex, that has an innate basis because of its biological value to an organism.
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conditioned reinforcer or secondary reinforcer
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A stimulus, such as money or tokens, that acquires its reinforcing power by a learned association with primary reinforcers.
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instinctive drift
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The tendency of an organism's innate (instinctive) responses to interfere with learned behaviour.
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token economy
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A therapeutic method, based on operant conditioning, by which individuals are rewarded with tokens, which act as secondary reinforcers. The tokens can be redeemed for a variety of rewards and privileges.
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Premack principle
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The concept, developed by David Premack, that a more-preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less-preferred activity.
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punishment
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An aversive consequence which, occurring after a response, diminished the strength of that response. (contrast with negative reinforcement.)
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positive punishment
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The application of an aversive stimulus after a response.
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negative punishment
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The removal of an attractive stimulus after a response.
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insight learning
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A form of cognitive learning, originally described by the Gestalt psychologists, in which problem solving occurs by means of a sudden reorganization perceptions.
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cognitive map
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In Tolman's work, a cognitive map was a mental representation of a maze or other physical space. Psychologists often use the term cognitive map more broadly to include an understanding of connections among concepts. Thus, cognitive map can represent either a physical or a mental "space".
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observation learning
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When someone watches another person's actions and their consequences to guide their future actions.
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long-term potention
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A biological process involving physical changes that strengthen the synapses in groups of nerve cells that is believed to be the neural basis of learning.
