General Psychology – Chapter 6: Learning – Flashcards
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A systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience.
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Learning
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A theory of learning that focuses solely on observational behaviors.
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Behaviorism
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Occurs when an organism makes a connection, or association, between two events.
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Associative Learning
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When a person observes and imitates another person's behavior.
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Observational Learning
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When a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response.
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Classical Conditioning
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Stimulus that provides a response without prior learning.
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Unconditioned Stimulus
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An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited.
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Unconditioned Response
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A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
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Conditioned Stimulus
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The learned response to the conditioned stimulus. Occurs after CS-US pairing.
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Conditioned Response
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Initial learning of the connection between the US and CS when these two stimuli are paired.
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Acquisition
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A new stimulus elicits a response similar to the conditioned stimulus. Part of classical conditioning.
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Generalization
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In classical conditioning is the process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others.
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Discrimination
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The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent. Part of classical conditioning.
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Extinction
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The process by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay without further conditioning. Part of classical conditioning.
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Spontaneous Recovery
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The recovery of the conditioned response when the organism is placed in novel context.
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Renewal
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Procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and a conditioned response. Part of classical conditioning.
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Counterconditioning
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A form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.
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Assertive Conditioning
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A decrease in the production of antibodies, which can lower a person's ability to fight disease. Classical conditioning can cause this.
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Immunosuppression
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Refers to a decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations.
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Habituation
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A form of associative learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence.
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Operant Conditioning
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A form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus.
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Aversive Conditioning
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States that behaviors followed by pleasant outcomes are strengthened, and that behaviors followed by unpleasant outcomes are weakened.
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Law of Effect
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Refers to rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior.
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Shaping
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The process by which a stimulus or event following a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again.
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Reinforcement
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Behavior increases because it is followed by a desirable stimulus.
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Positive Reinforcement
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Behavior increases because it is followed by the removal of something undesirable.
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Negative Reinforcement
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Occurs when the organism learns that by making a particular response, a negative stimulus can be altogether avoided.
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Avoidance Learning
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The organism learns that it has no control over negative outcomes.
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Learned Helplessness
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Specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced.
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Schedules of Reinforcement
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A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur.
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Punishment
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A form of problem solving in which an organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of a problem's solution.
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Insight Learning
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The tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning.
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Instinctive Drift
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Part of the autonomic nervous system that responds to stress. Plays an important role in the learned associations between conditioned stimuli and immune and endocrine functioning.
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Sympathetic Nervous System
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Species-specific biological predisposition to learn in certain ways but not others.
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Preparedness
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Does not take any learning on the organism's part to make it satisfying. Includes food, water, and sex.
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Primary Reinforcer
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Acquires positive value through an organism's experience. Example might be a paycheck.
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Secondary Reinforcer
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Unenforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior.
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Latent Learning
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Learned association between a particular taste and nausea. Part of classical conditioning.
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Taste Aversion
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Reinforces a behavior after a set number of behaviors.
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Fixed-Ratio Schedule
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A timetable in which behaviors are rewarded an average number of times but on an unpredictable basis.
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Variable-Ratio Schedule
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Reinforces the first behavior after a certain amount of time has passed.
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Fixed-Interval Schedule
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A timetable in which a behavior is reinforced after a variable amount of time has elapsed.
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Variable-Interval Schedule
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An operant chamber or device that is used to study operant conditioning.
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Skinner Box
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The idea that much of behavior is goal-directed.
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Purposiveness
