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AP Psychology - Learning Flashcards

Advanced Placement Psychology
Enterprise High School, Redding, CA
All terms from Myers Psychology for AP (BFW Worth, 2011)

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6406855393learninga relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience.0
6406855394habituationdecreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.1
6406855395associative learninglearning 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).2
6406855396classical conditioninga type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.3
6406855397behaviorismthe 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).4
6406855398unconditioned response (UR)in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.5
6406855399unconditioned stimulus (US)in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.6
6406855400conditioned response (CR)in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).7
6406855401conditioned stimulus (CS)in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.8
6406855402acquisitionin 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.9
6406855403extinctionthe 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.10
6406855404spontaneous recoverythe reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.11
6406855405generalizationthe tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.12
6406855406discriminationin classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.13
6406855407learned helplessnessthe hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.14
6406855408operant conditioninga type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.15
6406855409law of effectThe principle that behaviors are selected by their consequences16
6406855410operant chamberin operant conditioning research, an apparatus (also known as a Skinner box) 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.17
6406855411shapingan operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.18
6406855412reinforcerin operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.19
6406855413positive reinforcementincreasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. Any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.20
6406855414negative reinforcementincreasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. Any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.21
6406855415primary reinforceran innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.22
6406855416conditioned reinforcera stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.23
6406855417continuous reinforcementreinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.24
6406855418partial reinforcementreinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.25
6406855419fixed-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.26
6406855420variable-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.27
6406855421fixed- interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.28
6406855422variable-interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time.29
6406855423punishmentan event that decreases the behavior that it follows.30
6406855424cognitive mapa mental representation of the layout of one's environment.31
6406855425latent learninglearning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.32
6406855426intrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.33
6406855427extrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.34
6406855428observational learninglearning by observing others (also called social learning).35
6406855429modelingthe process of observing and imitating a specific behavior36
6406855430mirror neuronsfrontal 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.37
6406855431prosocial behaviorpositive, constructive, helpful behavior38

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