AP Psychology Chapter 7: Learning

conditioned reinforcer

(secondary Reinforcement do not have innate value but can still be highly motivating. The value of secondary reinforcers must be learned through experience.

conditioned stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself.

unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response *food for a hungry animal, causing it to salivate

acquisition

Acquisition refers to the first stages of learning when a response is established. In classical conditioning, it refers to the period of time when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response.

Law of effect

Basically states that "responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation

partial reinforcement

Behavior that is reinforced intermittently. * is more resistant to extinction than behavior that is continuously reinforced

continous reinforcement

When a target behavior is reinforced each and every time it is exhibited

conditioning

a behavioral process whereby a response becomes more frequent or more predictable in a given environment as a result of reinforcement, with reinforcement typically being a stimulus or reward for a desired response.

classical conditioning

a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

cognative map

a mental representation of the layout of ones environment

mirror neurons

a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another.

spontaneous recovery

a phenomenon of learning and memory which was first seen in classical (Pavlovian) conditioning and refers to the re-emergence of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a delay.

habituation

a psychological learning process wherein there is a decrease in response to a stimulus after being repeatedly exposed to it.

fix ratio schedule

a reinforcment schedule that reinforces a response only afer a specified number of responses

conditioned response

an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus. *salivating at the sound of a bell

primary reinforcer

are biological. Food, drink, and pleasure are the principal examples

shaping

behavior that comes closer and closer to final target behavior is reinforced *reinforcing closer approximations

unconditioned response

behavior that occurs naturally due to a given stimulus. *salivating at the sight of food

instrinsic motivation

desire to preform a behavior effectivley for its own sake

respondent behavior

is a behavioral process (or behavior) that happens in response to some stimuli, and is essential to an organism's survival. This behavior is characterized by involuntary action.

reinforcer

is a term used in operant condition to describe any event (stimulus, object...anything) that strengthens the frequency of the behavior that precedes it.

operant behavior

is done because it produces some type of consequence. For example, you are probably familiar with Pavlov's dog (classical conditioning) in which the dog salivated in response to meet powder. The dog couldn't control the salivation...that's classical conditioning. However, if the dog understood that by coming when called it would receive a treat, then it would be engaging in operant behavior.

associative learning

is the process by which an association between two stimuli or a behavior and a stimulus is learned.

operant conditioning

it means roughly changing of behavior by the use of reinforcement which is given after the desired response.

observational learning

learning by watching others

latent learning

learning that occurs, but it is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

positive reinforcement

occurs when a desirable event or stimulus is presented as a consequence of a behavior and the behavior increases.

negative reinforcement

occurs when something already present is removed (taken away) as a result of a behaviour and the behaviour that led to this removal will increase in the future because it created a favourable outcome.

variable ratio schedule

of reinforcement is a schedule of reinforcement wherein a reinforcer is provided following a pre-determined average number of responses. pay check, discount every wednesday

fixed ratio schedule

of reinforcement means that reinforcement should be delivered after a constant or "fixed" number of correct responses.

prosocial behavior

positive, constructive, helpful behavior.

fixed interval

reinforces the first response after a constant amount of time. *Most effective form. *slot machine

variable interval

reinforces the first response after changing amount of time. *Repeatedly checking for an email until it comes, shooting stars

discrimination

the ability to perceive and respond to differences among stimuli.

extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in CC when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus, occurs in OC when a response is no longer reinforced

modeling

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

generalization

the tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli.

behaviorism

view that psychcology 1. should be an objective science 2. students behavior with out reference to mental processes. Most psychologists agree with 1 but not 2

operant chamber

was created by B.F. Skinner to assist with laboratory analysis of animal behavior. The chamber is a box that holds the test subject, an animal such as a rat, and is often sound and light proof, to limit responses from unintended stimuli. The box is built with a system for delivering a stimulus and can detect the response.