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AP Psychology - Learning Review Flashcards

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

Terms : Hide Images
9701934918learninga relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience.0
9701934919habituationdecreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.1
9701934920associative 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
9701934921classical conditioninga type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.3
9701934922behaviorismthe 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
9701934923unconditioned 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
9701934924unconditioned stimulus (US)in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.6
9701934925conditioned response (CR)in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS).7
9701934926conditioned stimulus (CS)in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.8
9701934927acquisitionin 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
9701934928extinctionthe 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
9701934929spontaneous recoverythe reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.11
9701934930generalizationthe tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses.12
9701934931discriminationin classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus.13
9701934932learned helplessnessthe hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events.14
9701934933operant conditioninga type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.15
9701934934law of effectThe principle that behaviors are selected by their consequences16
9701934935operant 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
9701934936shapingan operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.18
9701934937reinforcerin operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.19
9701934938positive reinforcementincreasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. Any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.20
9701934939negative reinforcementincreasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. Any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response.21
9701934940primary reinforceran innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.22
9701934941conditioned reinforcera stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.23
9701934942continuous reinforcementreinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.24
9701934943partial 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
9701934944fixed-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.26
9701934945variable-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.27
9701934946fixed- interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.28
9701934947variable-interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time.29
9701934948punishmentan event that decreases the behavior that it follows.30
9701934949cognitive mapa mental representation of the layout of one's environment.31
9701934950latent learninglearning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.32
9701934951intrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.33
9701934952extrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.34
9701934953observational learninglearning by observing others (also called social learning).35
9701934954modelingthe process of observing and imitating a specific behavior36
9701934955mirror 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
9701934956prosocial behaviorpositive, constructive, helpful behavior38

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