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Myers 9 Chapter 7
Bell West / Learning
Question | Answer |
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learning | A relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience. |
associative learning | Learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its conquences (as in operant conditioning). |
classical conditioning | A type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events. |
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) butnot with (2). |
unconditioned response | In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth. |
unconditioned stimulus | In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally-naturally and automatically-triggers a response. |
conditioned response | In classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS). |
conditioned stimulus | In classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response. |
acquisition | In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulusbegins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response. |
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. |
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 reaapearance, 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. |
respondent behavior | behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus. |
operant conditioning | A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. |
operant behavior | Behavior that operates on the enviroment, producing consequences. |
law of effect | Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfaavorable consequences become less likely. |
operant chamber | In operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as Skinner box) containing a bar or key that ananimal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's 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 events that strengthens the behavior it follows. |
positive reinforcement | increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli,such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response. |
negative reinforcement | Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimuli that, when removed after a response. |
primary reinforcer | An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need. |
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 (intermittent) reinforcement | Reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extincton than does continuous reinforcement. |
fixed-ratio schedule | In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses. |
variable-ratio schedule | In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response aftert an unpredictable number of responses. |
fixed-interval schedule | In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed. |
variable-interval schedule | In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals. |
punishment | An event that decreases the behavior that it follows. |
cognitive map | A mental representation of the layout of one's environment. |
latent learning | Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. |
intrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake. |
extrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment. |
observational learning | Learning by observing others. |
modeling | The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. |
mirror neurons | frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation and empathy. |
prosocial behavior | Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. the opposite of antisocial behavior. |