learning
a relatively enduring change in an organisms behavior due to experience
classical conditioning
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that automatically elicits a response, typically via reflex, without prior conditioning (unconditioned = not learned)
unconditioned response
the unlearned automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus (air puff to eye = blink)
conditioned stimulus
an originally neutral stimulus that after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
conditioned response
the learned response to a conditioned stimulus
John b. Watson
stimulus generalization
stimuli that are similar to the original CS elicit the Cr, even though they have never been paired with the UCS
stimulus discrimination
a given CR is made to one specific stimulus but not to other, similar stimuli
spontaneous recovery
reappearance of a previously extinguished CR after a period of time without exposure to CS
extinction
gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of CR (extinction is not unlearning)
Shepard Siegal
conditioned compensatory response (CCR): a classically conditioned response in which stimuli that reliably preceded the administration of a drug that disrupts the normal level of functioning elicit a psychological reaction that counteracts the drugs effects
operant conditioning
non-reflexive (voluntary) behaviors
the abc’s of operant conditioning
a = antecedent: discriminative stimulus (child being told no)
b = behavior: operant response (temper tantrum)
c = consequence: reinforcers/punishers (parents give in)
operant
any active behavior that operates upon the environment to generate consequences
reinforcement
increases future behavior
punishment
decreases future behavior
Edward L. Thorndike
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
primary reinforcer
naturally reinforcer
secondary reinforcer
has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with primary reinforcer
shaping
reinforce successively closer approximations of a behavior until the correct behavior occurs
alternatives to punishment
contemporary views of operant conditioning