Learning Flashcards
acquisition
in classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neu- tral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning).
behaviourism
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective sci- ence that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
biofeedback
a system for electronically recording, amplifying, and feeding back information regarding a subtle physiological state, such as blood pressure or muscle tension.
classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language.
cognitive map
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.
conditioned reinforcement
involves stimuli that have become rewarding by being paired with another reinforcing stimulus. For example, when training a dog, praise and treats might be used as primary reinforcers.
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).
conditioned stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR).
continuous reinforcement
einforcing the desired response every time it occurs
coping
alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioural methods.
discrimination
in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
emotional focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress reaction.
external locus of control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate.
extinction reinforcement
refers to a procedure used in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in which reinforcement that is provided for problem behavior (often unintentionally) is discontinued in order to decrease or eliminate occurrences of these types of negative (or problem) behaviors.
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behaviour to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.
fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.
fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.
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 the tone and begin responding to the light alone. (Also called second-order conditioning.
internal locus of control
the perception that you control your own fate.
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behaviour effectively for its own sake.
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.
