Psychology 101 Chapter 6 – Learning

a relatively permanent behavior change due to experience

learning that certain events occur together. The events may e two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant learning)

an event or situation that evokes a response

the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, watching others, or through language

a type of learning in which we learn to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salvation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (such as food in mouth)

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response (UR)

in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response

(1) in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when we link a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. (2) In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response

in classical conditioning, the weakening of a conditioned response when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus (in operant conditioning, the weakening of a response when it is no longer reinforced)

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

in classical conditioning, the tendency, after conditioning, to respond similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus

(1) in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli (2) unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

a box (also known as a Skinner box) with an attached recording device to track the rate at which an animal presses the box's bar to obtain a reinforcer. used in operant conditioning research

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide actions closer and closer toward a desired behavior

increase behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food.

a positive reinforcer is anything that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

increases behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. a negative reinforcer is anything that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (note: this is not punishment)

an event that is innately reinforcing, often by satisfying a biological need

(aka secondary reinforcer) an event that gains its reinforcing power through its link with a primary reinforcer

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

reinforcing a desired response every time it occurs

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a respnse only after a specified number of responses

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable time intervals

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

an event that decreases the behavior it follows

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

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 (2)

a mental image of the layout of one's environment

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

a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake

a desire to perform a behavior to gain a reward or avoid a punishment

learning by observing others

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

neuron that fires when we perform certain actions and when we observe others performing those actions; neural basis for imitation and observational learning

positive, constructive, helpful behavior. the opposite of antisocial behavior