Chapter 7 Flashcards
(38 cards)
learning
a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience.
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. events may be two stimuli ( as in classical conditioning ) or a response and its consequences ( as in operant conditioning )
behaviorism
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).
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which are learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.
unconditioned response (UCR)
in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.
unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically triggers a response.
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral ( but now conditioned ) stimulus.
conditioned stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), come to trigger a conditioned response.
acquisition
in classical conditioning, initial stage; when one links a neutral stimulus & an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. in operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
extinction
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.
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.
generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.
discrimination
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed y a punisher.
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus.
Skinner box (operant chamber)
in operant conditioning research, chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food/water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key pecking.
shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.
reinforcer
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.
primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.
higher order conditioning
a procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus. for example, an animal that has learned that a tone predicts food might then learn that a light predicts that tone and begin responding to the light alone.
conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer, also known as a secondary reinforcer.
continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.
partial reinforcement
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.
fixed - radio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.
