Psychology 7

Stimulus Generalization

In classical conditioning, giving a conditioned response to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination

In classical conditioning, giving a conditioned response to the conditioned stimulus but not to stimuli similar to it.

Fixed-Interval Schedule of Reinforcement

A partial schedule of reinforcement that provides reinforcement for the first desired response made after a set length of time.

Variable-Interval Schedule of Reinforcement

A partial schedule of reinforcement that provides reinforcement for the first desired response made after varying, unpredictable lengths of time.

Fixed-Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement

A partial schedulee of reinforcement that provides reinforcement after a set number of desired responses.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior resulting from experience.

Partial Schedule of Reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement that reinforces some, but not all instances of a desired response.

Programmed Instruction

A step-by-step approach based on operant conditioning, in which the learner proceeds at his or her own pace through more and more advanced material and receives immediate knowledge of the results of each response

Conditioned Taste Aversion

A taste aversion induced by pairing a taste with gastrointestinal distress

Social Learning Theory

A theory of learning that assumes that people learn behaviors mainly through observation and mental processing of information

Continuous Schedule of Reinforcement

A schedule of reinforcement that provides reinforcement for each instance of a desired response.

Variable-Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement

A partial schedule of reinforcement that provides reinforcement after varying, unpredictable numbers of desired responses.

Extinction

1. In classical conditioning, the gradual disappearance of the conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus. 2. In operant conditioning, the gradual disappearance of a response that is no longer followed by a reinforcer.

Spontaneous Recovery

1. In classical conditioning, the reappearance after a period of time of a conditioned response that has been subjected extinction. 2. In operant conditioning, the reappearance after a period of time of a behavior that has been subjected to extinction.

Learned Helplessness

A feeling of futility caused by the belief that one has little or no control over events in one's life, which can make one stop trying and experience depressed mood.

Instrumental Conditioning

A form of learning in which a behavior becomes more or less probable, depending on its consequences.

Classical Conditioning

A form of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after being associated with a stimulus that already elicits that response

Biofeedback

A form of operant conditioning that enables an individual to learn to control a normally involuntary physiological process or to gain better control of a normally voluntary one when provided with visual or auditory information indicating the state of that response

Skinner Box

An enclosure that contains a bar or key that can be pressed to obtain food or water and that is used to study operant conditioning in rats, pigeons, or other small animals.

Shaping

An operant conditioning procedure that involves the positive reinforcement of successive approximations of an initially improbable behavior to eventually bring about that behavior

Token Economy

An operant conditioning procedure that uses tokens as positive reinforcers in programs designed to promote desirable behaviors, with the tokens later used to purchase desired items or privileges.

Chaining

An operant conditioning procedure used to establish a desired sequence of behaviors by positively reinforcing each behavior in the sequence.

Operant Conditioning

B. F. Skinner's term for instrumental conditioning, a form of learning in which a behavior becomes more or less probable, depending on its consequences.

Law of Effect

Edward Thorndyke's principle that a behavior followed by a satisfying state of affairs is strengthened and a behavior followed by an annoying state of affairs is weakened.

Unconditioned Response

In classical conditioning an unlearned automatic response to a particular unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a particular conditioned response after being paired with a particular unconditioned stimulus that already elicits that response.

Unconditioned Stimulus

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that automatically elicits a particular unconditioned response

Higher-order Conditioning

In classical conditioning, the establishment of a conditioned response to a neutral stimulus that has been paired with an existing conditioning stimulus.

Conditioned Response

In classical conditioning, the learned response given to a particular conditioned stimulus.

Semantic Conditioning

In classical conditioning, the use of words as conditioned stimuli.

Secondary Reinforcer

In operant conditioning, a neutral stimulus that becomes reinforcing after being associated with a primary reinforcer.

Discriminative Stimulus

In operant conditioning, a stimulus that indicates the likelihood that a particular response will be reinforced.

Positive Reinforcement

In operant conditioning, an increase in the probability of a behavior that is followed by a desirable consequence.

Negative Reinforcement

In operant conditioning, an increase in the probability of a behavior that is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus

Primary Reinforcer

In operant conditioning, an unlearned reinforcer that satisfies a biological need such as food, water, or oxygen.

Punishment

In operant conditioning, the process by which an aversive stimulus decreases the probability of a response that precedes it

Observational Learning

Learning produced by observing the consequences that others receive for performing particular behaviors

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without the reinforcement of overt behavior

Escape Learning

Learning to perform a behavior that terminates an aversive stimulus, as in negative reinforcement

Avoidance Learning

Learning to prevent the occurrence of an aversive stimulus by giving an appropriate response to a warning stimulus

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that appear to be involved in the neural circuits responsible for observational learning.

Behavioral Contingencies

Relationships between behaviors and their consequences, such as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, extinction, and punishment.

Behavioral Preparedness

The degree to which members of a species are innately prepared to learn particular behaviors

Premark principle

The principle that a more probable behavior can be used as a reinforcer for a less probable one.

Blocking

The process by which a neutral stimulus paired with a conditioned stimulus that already elicits a conditioned response fails to become a conditioned stimulus

Instinctive Drift

The reversion of animals to behaviors characteristic of their species even when being reinforced for performing other behaviors

Computer-Assisted Instruction

The use of computer programs to provide programmed instruction