Psychology 100 chapter 7 keywords Learning and Conditioning

CH 7 p221-258 Learning A relatively permanent change in behavior (or behavior potential) due to experience Conditioning A basic kind of learning that involves associations among environmental stimuli and an organism’s behavior.  Unconditioned Stimulus (US) The classical-conditioning term for a stimulus that already elicits a certain response without additional learning.  Unconditioned Response (UR) The classical-conditioning term for a response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.  Conditioned Stimulus (CS) The classical-conditioning term for an initially neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a conditioned response after being associated with an unconditioned stimulus.  Conditioned Response (CR) The classical-conditioning term for a response that is elicited by a conditioned stimulus; it occurs after the conditioned stimulus is associated with an unconditioned stimulus.  Classical Conditioning The process by which a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that already elicits a response and, in turn, acquires the capacity to elicit a similar or related response. Also called Pavlocian or respondent conditioning.  Extinction The weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned response; in classical conditioning, it occurs when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus Spontaneous recovery The reappearance of a learned response after its apparent extinction. Higher-order conditioning In classical conditioning, a procedure in which a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus through association with an already established conditioned stimulus.  Stimulus generalization After conditioning, the tendency to respond to a stimulus that resembles one involved in the original conditioning; in classical conditioning, it occurs when a stimulus that resembles the CS elicits the CR Stimulus discrimination The tendency to respond differently to two or more similar stimuli; in classical conditioning, it occurs when a stimulus similar to the CS fails to evoke the CR.  Behaviorism  An approach to psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment and prior experience as determinants of behavior Counterconditioning  In classical conditioning, the process of pairing a conditioned stimulus with a stimulus that elicits a response that is incompatible with and unwanted conditioned response.  Operant conditioning The process by which a response becomes more likely to occur or less so depending on its consequences.  Reinforcement The process by which a stimulus or event strengthens or increases the probability of the response that it follows.  Punishment The process by which a stimulus or event weakens or reduces the probability of the response that it follows.  Primary reinforcer A stimulus that is inherently reinforcing, typically satisfying a physiological need; an example is food.  Primary punisher A stimulus that is inherently punishing; an example is electric shock.  Secondary reinforcer A stimulus that has acquired reinforcing properties through association with other reinforcers. Secondary punisher A stimulus that has acquired punishing properties through association with other punishers. Positive reinforcement A reinforcement procedure in which a response is followed by the presentation of, or increase in intensity of, a reinforcing stimulus; as a result, the response becomes stronger or more likely to occur.  Negative reinforcement A reinforcement procedure in which a response is followed by the removal, delay, or decrease in intensity of an unpleasant stimulus; as a result, the response becomes stronger or more likely to occur.  Extinction The weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned response; in operant conditioning, it occurs when a response is no longer followed by a reinforcer.  Stimulus generalization In operant conditioning, the tendency for a response that has been reinforced (or punished) in the presence of one stimulus to occur (or be suppressed) in the presence of other similar stimuli.  Stimulus discrimination In operant conditioning, the tendency of a response to occur in the presence of one stimulus but not in the presence of other similar stimuli that differ from it on some dimension.  Discrimination stimulus A stimulus that signals when a particular response is likely to be followed by a certain type of consequence.  Continuous Reinforcement A reinforcement schedule in which a particular response is always reinforced.  Intermittent (partial schedule of reinforcement A reinforcement schedule in which a particular response is sometimes but not always reinforced.  Shaping An operant-conditioning procedure in which successive approximations of a desired response are reinforced.  Successive approximations In the operant-conditioning procedure of shaping, behaviors that are ordered in terms of increasing similarity or closeness to the desired response.  Instinctive Drift During operant learning, the tendency for an organism to revert to instinctive behavior.  Behavior modification The application of operant-conditioning techniques to teach new responses or to reduce or eliminate maladaptive or problematic behavior; also called applied behavior analysis.  Extrinsic reinforcers Reinforcers that are not inherently related to the activity being reinforced.  Intrinsic reinforcers Reinforcers that are inherently related to the activity being reinforced. Latent Learning  A form of learning that is not immediately expressed in an overt response; it occurs without obvious reinforcement.  Social-cognitive theories Theories that emphasize how behavior is learned and maintained through observation and imitation of others, positive consequences, and cognitive processes such as plans, expectations, and beliefs.  Observational learning A process in which an individual learns new responses by observing the behavior of another (a model) rather than through direct experience; sometimes called vicarious conditioning.