Chapter 6- Psychology 110

interval

amount of time that elapses before reinforcement

reinforcer

any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding behavior will occur again

variable ratio schedule

occurs after a varying number of responses rather than after a fixed number

Extinction

occurs when a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and disappears despite the CS being presented

reinforcement

process by which a stimulus increases the probability that a preceding behavior will be repeated

shaping

process of teaching a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

fixed interval schedule

provides reinforcement for a response only after a fixed time period has elapsed

spontaneous recovery

reemergence of an extinguished conditioned response occurs after a period of rest and with no further conditioning

fixed ratio schedule

reinforcement is given only after a specific number responses are made

continuous reinforcement schedule

reinforcing of a behavior every time it occurs

partial reinforcement schedule

reinforcing of a behavior some but not all of the time

Learning

relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience

Thorndike's law of effect

responses that lead to satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated

primary reinforcer

satisfy biological need and works naturally regardless of a persons previous experience

discriminative stimulus

signals the likelihood that reinforcement will follow a response

positive reinforcers

stimulus added to the environment that brings about an increase in a preceding response

secondary reinforcer

stimulus that becomes reinforcing because of its association with a primary reinforcer

variable interval schedule

time between reinforcements varies around some average rather than being fixed

negative reinforcers

unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated

negative punishment

weakens a response though the removal of something pleasant

positive punishment

weakens a response through the application of unpleasant stimulus

mirror neurons

fire when one observes another person carrying out a behavior

behavior modification

formalized technique for promoting the frequency of desirable behaviors and decreasing the incidence of unwanted ones

Phobias

intense, irrational fears

operant conditioning

learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened depending on its favorable or unfavorable consequences

ratio

number of responses made before reinforcement

The Skinner Box

a chamber with a highly controlled environment used to study operant conditioning with laboratory animals

conditioned stimulus

a one neutral stimulus that has been paired with an unconditional stimulus brings about a response formerly caused only by the unconditioned stimulus

conditioned response

a response that after conditioning follows a previously neutral stimulus

unconditioned response

a response that is natural and needs no training

unconditioned stimulus

a stimulus that naturally brings about a particular response without having been learned

stimulus control training

behavior is reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus but not in its absence

Little Albert

case study conditioned fear John Watson and Rosalie Rayner

Neutral stimulus

comes to bring about a response after it is paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about that response a stimulus that before conditioning does not naturally bring about the response of interest