Psychology Mid-Term 4

Variable ratio schedule of reinforcement

number of responses required varies for each event

Conditioned response (CR)

learned reflex response to a conditioned stimulus

Learning

learning is any relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience or practice and is different from maturation that is genetically controlled.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

a naturally occurring stimulus that leads to an involuntary (reflex) response. (naturally occurs)

Classical conditioning

learning to make an involuntary (reflex) response to a stimulus other than original, natural stimulus that normally produces the reflex.

Fixed interval schedule

always the same time before reinforcement opportunity

Unconditioned response (UCR)

an involuntary (reflex) response to a naturally occurring or unconditioned stimulus. (naturally occurs because of natural stimulus)

Reinforcer

any event or object that, when following a response, increases the likelihood or that response occurring again.

Punishment

any event or object that, when following a response, makes that response less likely to happen again.

Reinforcement

any event or stimulus, that when following a response, increases the probability that the response will occur again.

Ivan Pavlov

discovered phenomenon classical conditioning accidentally

Conditioned emotional response (CER)

emotional response that has become classically conditioned to occur to learned stimuli. (CER's may lead to phobias)

Thorndike's Law of Effect

if an action is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated and if followed by an unpleasant consequence, it will tend not to be repeated.

Variable interval schedule of reinforcement

reinforcement possibilities after varying amounts of time.

Fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement

schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is always the same.

Shaping

small steps, effective reinforcement, heavy early reinforcement, reinforce less and less, incorporate harder steps.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

stimulus that becomes able to produce a learned reflex response by being paired with the original unconditioned stimulus. (learned)

Operant Conditioning

the learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences to responses.

Punishment by application

the punishment of a response by the addition or experience of an unpleasant stimulus.

Punishment by removal

the punishment of a response by the removal of a pleasurable stimulus.

Positive reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the addition of experience of a pleasure stimulus.

Negative reinforcement

the reinforcement of a response by the removal escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus.

Continuous reinforcement

the reinforcement of each and ever correct response.

Stimulus generalization

the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned stimulus with the conditioned response.

Stimulus discrimination

the tendency to stop making a generalized response to a stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus because the similar stimulus is never paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

when the bell (CS) was repeatedly presented in the absence of the (UCS) food, the salivation (CR) "died" out in this process.