Unit 6: Learning

spontaneous recovery

1. 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. 2. the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response. 3. reappearance

conditioned reinforcer

1. a stimulus or situation that has acquired its function as a reinforcer after pairing with a stimulus that functions as a reinforcer. 2. a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer. 3.learn value/ want

conditioned response (CR)

1. an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus. 2. in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS). 3. caused by cs

primary reinforcer

1. are biological. Food, drink, and pleasure are the principal examples of primary reinforcers. 2. an innately reinforcer stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need. 3. food, drink, etc

learning

1. he acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught. 2. a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience. 3. punishment

acquisition

1. he learning or developing of a skill, habit, or quality. 2. in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response. 3. ucs+cs

unconditioned response (UCR)

1. is behavior that occurs naturally due to a given stimulus. 2. in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth. 3. cause by us

insight

1. occurs when a solution to a problem presents itself quickly and without warning. It is the sudden discovery of the correct solution following incorrect attempts based on trial and error. 2. a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem. 3. solution to a problem

continuous reinforcement

1. occurs when reinforcement is delivered after every single target behaviour whereas an intermittent schedule of reinforcement (INT) means reinforcement is delivered after some behaviours or responses but never after each one. 2. reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. 3. reinforcing after every good/bad thing

VR (variable ratio) schedule

1. schedule of reinforcement is a schedule of reinforcement wherein a reinforcer is provided following a pre-determined average number of responses. 2. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses 3. unpredictable #

FR (fixed ratio) schedule

1. schedule of reinforcement means that reinforcement should be delivered after a constant or "fixed" number of correct responses. 2. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specific number of responses. 3. known #

operant conditioning

1. sometimes referred to as instrumental learning, is a method of learning that occurs through reinforcements and punishments for behavior. 2. a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. 3. diminished if followed by punisher

reinforcer

1. term used in operant condition to describe any event (stimulus, object...anything) that strengthens the frequency of the behavior that precedes it. 2. in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows. 3. strengthens behavior

extinction

1. the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. 2. the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced. 3. behavior dies out

associative learning

1. the process by which an association between two stimuli or a behavior and a stimulus is learned. The two forms of associative learning are classical and operant conditioning. 2. learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (as in operant conditioning). 3. don't like the smell of perfume bc of ex gf

behaviorism

1. the theory that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior patterns. 2. the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). 3. watsonism

negative reinforcement

1. which strengthens a behavior by taking away a negative outcome as an effect of the behavior. 2. increases behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (Note: negative reinforcement is NOT punishment). 3. taking away homework

conditioned stimulus (CS)

1. A previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated association with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits the response produced by the unconditioned stimulus itself. 2. in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (CS), comes to trigger a conditioned response. 3. causes cr

observational learning

1. also known as social learning, is a type of learning most associated with the work and social learning theory of psychologist Albert Bandura. 2. learning by observing others. Also called social learning. 3. watching others

learned helplessness

1. a condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed. It is thought to be one of the underlying causes of depression. 2. the helplessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. 3. girl with bad bf

modeling

1. a form of learning where individuals ascertain how to act or perform by observing another individual. 2. the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. 3. imitating behavior

operant chamber (skinner box)

1. a laboratory apparatus used in the experimental analysis of behavior to study animal behavior. 2. in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner Box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking. 3. mouse playing basketball

classical conditioning (pavlovian conditioning)

1. 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. 2. a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events. 3. guy with airsoft gun

cognitive map

1. a mental representation of one's physical environment. 2. a mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example, after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it. 3. map of bus

shaping

1. a method of training by which successive approximations toward a desired target behavior are reinforced, to test his theories of behavioral psychology. 2. an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. 3. mouse through obstacles

VI (variable Interval) schedule

1. a schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed. This schedule produces a slow, steady rate of response 2. in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. 3. unknown time

mirror neurons

1. a set of neurons that we discovered in the premotor cortex of the monkey. 2. = frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation and empathy. 3. set up for copying

intrinsic motivation

1. defined as performing an action or behavior because you enjoy the activity itself. 2. a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake. 3. within yourself

latent learning

1. form of learning that is not immediately expressed in an overt response; it occurs without any obvious reinforcement of the behavior or associations that are learned. 2. learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. 3. incentive learning

prosocial behavior

1. is any action intended to help others. One motivation for prosocial behavior is altruism, or the desire to help others with no expectation of reward. 2. positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior. 3. positive behavior

positive reinforcement

1. is the addition of a reward following a desired behavior. 2. increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. 3. giving food to a dog for behavior

FI (fixed interval) schedule

1. refers to a schedule of reinforcement used within operant conditioning. You might remember that operant conditioning is a type of associative learning in which a person's behavior changes according to that behavior's consequences. 2. = in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specific time has elapsed. 3. known time

extrinsic motivation

1. rewards (for example money or grades) for showing the desired behavior, and the threat of punishment following misbehavior. 2. a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment. 3. outside of yourself

law of effect

1. 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." 2. Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely. 3.rewarding and punishment

discrimination

1. term that is used in both classical and operant conditioning. In classical conditioning, it refers to an ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and other, similar stimuli that don't signal an unconditioned stimulus (US). 2. in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus. 3. like ketchup not tomatoes

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

1. that elicits an unconditioned response; for example, food is an unconditioned stimulus for a hungry animal, and salivation is the unconditioned response. 2. in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response. 3. causes ucr

generalization

1. the action of generalizing 2. the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses. 3. treating 2 similar things the same

habituation

1. the diminishing of a physiological or emotional response to a frequently repeated stimulus. 2. an organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it. 3. music at tokyo express

punishment

1. the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense. 2. an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. 3. doesn't usually work

partial reinforcement

1. variable ratio schedule produces both the highest rate of responding and the greatest resistance to extinction (for example, the behavior of gamblers at slot machines). 2. reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement. 3. reinforcement sometimes