AP Psych Unit 4

Capable of being modified to suit different conditions or a different purpose

a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience

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).

the process of learning associations

Focuses on punishments and rewards. Reasons we behave the way we do.

-neutral stimulus: bell

A stimulus that automatically elicts a response, as meat causes salvation

In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.

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.)

the diminishing of a conditioned response

the tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

in classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

a type of classical conditioning in which a previously desirable or neutral food comes to be perceived as repugnant because it is associated with negative stimulation

a type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

stimuli, such as food or warmth, that have reinforcement value without learning

adding an undesirable stimulus to stop or decrease a behavior

taking away a pleasant stimulus to decrease or stop a behavior

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

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

a mental representation of the layout of one's environment

learning that remains hidden until its application becomes useful

the process of mentally working through a problem until the sudden realization of a solution occurs

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

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, language learning, and empathy.

positive, constructive, helpful behavior

we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished

the tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer

any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs