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