chapter 8 psych vocab myers
Terms
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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 consequences (as in operant conditioning).
- classical conditioning:
- a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.
- 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) but not 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:
- the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
- 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 reappearance, 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.
- operant conditioning:
- a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.
- respondent behavior:
- behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinner’s term for behavior learned through classical conditioning.
- operant behavior:
- behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.
- law of effect:
- Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.
- operant chamber:
- a chamber also known as a Skinner box, containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer, with attached devices to record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking. Used in operant conditioning research.
- shaping:
- an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.
- reinforcer:
- in operant conditioning, any event 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 stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.)
- 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 secondary reinforcer.
- continuous reinforcement:
- reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.
- partial reinforcement:
- 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.
- punishment:
- an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.
- 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.
- 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 for its own sake.
- extrinsic motivation:
- a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of 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, language learning, and empathy.
- prosocial behavior:
- positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.