Psychology Themes and Variations Chapter 6

Spontaneous recovery

The reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Shaping

The reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response.

Fixed-ratio (FR) schedule

The reinforcer is given after a fixed number of non-reinforced responses.

Variable-ratio (VR) schedule

The reinforcer is given after a variable number of non-reinforced responses.

Variable-interval (VI) schedule

The reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable time interval has elapsed.

Fixed-interval (FI) schedule

The reinforcer is given for the first response that occurs after a fixed time interval has elapsed.

Resistance to extinction

When an organism continues to make a response after delivery of the reinforcer has been terminated.

Observational learning

When an organism's responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models.

Continuous reinforcement

When every instance of a designated response is reinforced.

Negative punishment

remove stimulus to decrease behavior, take away freedom to decrease being late for curfew

Discriminative stimuli

Cues that influence operant behavior by indicating the probable consequences (reinforcement or non-reinforcement) of a response.

Schedule of reinforcement

Determines which occurrences of a specific response result in the presentation of a reinforcer.

Conditioned reinforcers

Events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcers

Events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Primary reinforcers

Events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs.

Positive reinforcement

Occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus.

Negative reinforcement

Occurs when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus.

Reinforcement

Occurs when an event following a response increases an organism's tendency to make that response.

Stimulus discrimination

Occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimulus that is similar to the original stimulus.

Stimulus generalization

Occurs when an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds to the original stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Previously neutral stimulus that has, through conditioning, acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response.

Acquisition

The initial stage of learning something.

Learning

Any relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge that is due to experience.

Extinction

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency.

Intermittent reinforcement

When a designated response is reinforced only some of the time.

Partial reinforcement

When a designated response is reinforced only some of the time.

Punishment

When an event is following a response weakens the tendency to make that response.

Operant conditioning

A form of learning in which responses come to be controlled by their consequences. aka. Instrumental learning

Conditioned response (CR)

A learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of previous conditioning.

Skinner box

A small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is recorded while the consequences of the response are systematically controlled.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning.

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

Pavlovian conditioning

A type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

Unconditioned response (UCR)

An unlearned reaction to a stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning.

Trial

In classical conditioning, any presentation of a stimulus or pair of stimuli.

Positive punishment

The addition of a stimulus that decreases behavior

Reinforcement contingencies

The circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcement.

learned helplessness

pattern of responding to situations by giving up because of repeated failure in the past