Psychology Chapter 7: Learning

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

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli or a response and its consequences

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

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 2

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, a stimulus that unconditionally- naturally and automatically- triggers a response

in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

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

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 anew neutral stimulus, creating a second (often weaker) conditioned stimulus

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

the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

the tendency,once a response has bee 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

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

behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences

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

in operant conditioning research, a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking

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

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows

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.

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction that 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 intervals

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows

a mental representation of the layout of one's environment

learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment

learning by observing others

the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. May enable imitation and empathy

positive, constructive, helpful behavior.