Psychology of Learning – Exam 2

The process of developing and strengthening a conditioned response through repeated pairings of an NS (or CS) with a US.

The phenomenon whereby the presence of an established CS interferes with conditioning of a new CS.

A complex stimulus that consists of the simultaneous presentation of two or more individual stimuli.

The sudden recovery of a response during an extinction procedure when a novel stimulus is introduced.

An experimentally produced disorder in which animals exposed to unpredictable events develop neurotic-like symptoms.

A decrease in the strength of the conditioned response due to the presentation of a novel stimulus at the same time as the conditioned stimulus.

The process whereby a conditioned response can be weakened or eliminated when the CS is repeatedly presented in the absence of the US; also, the procedure whereby this happens, namely, the repeated presentation of the CS in the absence of the US.

The process whereby a stimulus that is associated with a CS also becomes a CS.

The phenomenon whereby a familiar stimulus is more difficult to condition as a CS than an unfamiliar (novel) stimulus.

A procedure in which a stimulus (known as an occasion setter) signals that a CS is likely to be followed by the US with which it is associated.

The phenomenon whereby the most salient member of a compound stimulus is more readily conditioned as a CS and thereby interferes with conditioning of the less salient member.

A situation in which an elicited response that appears to be a CR is actually the result of sensitization rather than conditioning.

The generalization of a conditioned response to verbal stimuli that are similar in meaning to the CS.

In this phenomenon, when one stimulus is conditioned as a CS, another stimulus with which it was previously associated can also become a CS.

The reappearance of a conditioned response following a rest period after extinction.

The tendency for a response to be elicited by one stimulus and not another.

The tendency for a CR to occur in the presence of a stimulus that is similar to the CS.

A form of classical conditioning in which the CS is the passage of time.

A process that involves the postconditioning presentation of the US at a different level of intensity, thereby altering the strength of response to the previously conditioned CS.

A form of behavior therapy that attempts to reduce the attractiveness of a desired event by associating it with an aversive stimulus.

A model of classical conditioning that proposes that the compensatory after-reactions to a US may come to be elicited by a CS.

The procedure whereby a CS that elicits one type of response is associated with an event that elicits an incompatible response.

A behavioral treatment for phobias that involves prolonged exposure to a feared stimulus, thereby providing maximal opportunity for the conditioned fear response to extinguish.

The strengthening of a conditioned fear response as a result of brief exposures to the aversive CS.

The decrease in the conditioned response that occurs when two separately conditioned CSs are combined into a compound stimulus for further pairings with the US.

A theory of classical conditioning that proposes that the purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US.

The genetically based tendency to learn certain kinds of associations more easily than others.

The process whereby certain responses are incompatible with each other and the occurrence of one response necessarily inhibits the other.

A theory of classical conditioning that proposes that a given US can support only so much conditioning and that this amount of conditioning must be distributed among the various CSs available.

As applied to classical conditioning, a model that assumes that the NS becomes directly associated with the UR and therefore comes to elicit the same response as the UR.

A model of classical conditioning that assumes that the NS becomes directly associated with the US and therefore comes to elicit a response that is related to that US.

An increase in one's reactivity to a potentially fearful stimulus following exposure to an unrelated stressful event.

A theory of classical conditioning that proposes that the CS acts as a substitute for the US.

A behavioral treatment for phobias that involves pairing relaxation with a succession of stimuli that elicit increasing levels of fear.

An individual's base level of emotionality and reactivity to stimulation that, to a large extent, is genetically determined.

Reinforcers that have been deliberately arranged in order to modify a behavior; they are not a natural consequence of the behavior in that setting (also known as contrived reinforcers).

Behavior that occurs before the aversive stimulus is presented and therefore prevents its delivery.

A stimulus in the presence of which responses are reinforced and in the absence of which they are not reinforced.

A stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement.

A stimulus that signals that a response will be punished.

A behavior that results in the termination of an aversive stimulus.

The reinforcement provided by a consequence that is external to the behavior, that is, an extrinsic reinforcer.

A type of secondary reinforcer that has been associated with several other reinforcers.

Reinforcement provided by the mere act of performing the behavior; the performance of the behavior is inherently reinforcing.

As stated by Thorndike, the proposition that behaviors that lead to a satisfactory state of affairs are strengthened or "stamped in," while behaviors that lead to an unsatisfactory or annoying state of affairs are weakened or "stamped out."

Reinforcers that are naturally provided for a certain behavior; that is, they are a natural consequence of the behavior within that setting.

The removal of a stimulus (one that is usually considered pleasant or rewarding) following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

The removal of a stimulus (one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive) following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.

A class of emitted responses that result in certain consequences; these consequences, in turn, affect the future probability or strength of those responses.

A type of learning in which the future probability of a behavior is affected by its consequences.

The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered unpleasant or aversive) following a response, which then leads to a decrease in the future strength of that response.

The presentation of a stimulus (one that is usually considered pleasant or rewarding) following a response, which then leads to an increase in the future strength of that response.

An event that is innately reinforcing.

An event that (1) follows a behavior and (2) decreases the future probability of that behavior.

An event that (1) follows a behavior and (2) increases the future probability of that behavior.

An event that is reinforcing because it has been associated with some other reinforcer.

The gradual creation of new operant behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations to that behavior.

The relationship between a discriminative stimulus, an operant behavior, and a reinforcer or punisher.