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AP Psychology Learning Unit Flashcards

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8583073198learninga relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience0
8583073199habituationan organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it1
8583073200associative 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
8583073201classical conditioninga type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events3
8583073202behaviorismthe 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
8583073203unconditioned response (UR)in classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth5
8583073204unconditioned stimulus (US)in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response6
8583073205conditioned response (CR)in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)7
8583073206conditioned stimulus (CS)in classical conditioned, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response8
8583073207acquisitionin 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 response9
8583073208higher-order conditioninga 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)10
8583073209extinctionthe diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when a unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant condition when a response is no longer reinforced11
8583073210spontaneous recoverythe reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response12
8583073211generalizationthe tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit responses13
8583073212discriminationin classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus14
8583073213learned helplessnessthe hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events15
8583073214respondent behaviorbehavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus16
8583073215operant conditioninga type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforce or diminished followed by a punisher17
8583073216operant behaviorbehavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences18
8583073217law of effectThorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, or where behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely19
8583073218operant chamberin operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food or water reinforce; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking20
8583073219shapingan operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior21
8583073220discriminative stimulusin operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)22
8583073221reinforcein operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows23
8583073222positive reinforcementincreasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforce in any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response24
8583073223negative reinforcementincreasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforce is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (negative reinforcement is not punishment)25
8583073224primary reinforcean innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need26
8583073225conditioned reinforcera stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforce; also known as a secondary reinforce27
8583073226continuous reinforcementreinforcing the desired response every time it occurs28
8583073227partial (intermittent) reinforcementreinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement29
8583073228fixed-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses30
8583073229variable-ratio schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses31
8583073230fixed-interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed32
8583073231variable-interval schedulein operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals33
8583073232punishmentan event that decreases the behavior that it follows34
8583073233cognitive mapa 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)35
8583073234latent learninglearning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it36
8583073235insighta sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem37
8583073236intrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake38
8583073237extrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment39
8583073238observational learninglearning by observing others (also social learning)40
8583073239modelingthe process of observing and imitating a specific behavior41
8583073240mirror neuronsfrontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's actions may enable imitation and empathy42
8583073241prosocial behaviorpositive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior43
8583073242little albertsubject in John Watson's experiment, proved classical conditioning principles, especially the generalization of fear44
8583073243Albert Banduraresearcher famous for work in observational or social learning including the famous Bobo doll experiment45
8583073244John GarciaResearched taste aversion. Showed that when rats ate a novel substance before being nauseated by a drug or radiation, they developed a conditioned taste aversion for the substance.46
8583073245Ivan PavlovRussian physiologist who observed conditioned salivary responses in dogs (1849-1936)47
8583073246Rosalie Raynergraduate student of Watson and co-researcher for the famous Little Albert demonstration of classically conditioned emotion48
8583073247Martin Seligmanresearcher known for work on learned helplessness and learned optimism as well as positive psychology49
8583073248B.F. Skinnerpioneer of operant conditioning who believed that everything we do is determined by our past history of rewards and punishments. he is famous for use of his operant conditioning aparatus which he used to study schedules of reinforcement on pidgeons and rats.50
8583073249Edward ThorndikePioneer in operant conditioning who discovered concepts in intstrumental learning such as the law of effect. Known for his work with cats in puzzle boxes.51
8583073250John Watsonbehaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which a baby was taught to fear a white rat52
8583073251biofedbacka technique that trains people to improve their health by controlling certain bodily processes that normally happen involuntarily, such as heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and skin temperature.53
8583073252observational learninglearning by observing others54
8583073253aversion theoryAversion therapy is a form of behavior therapy in which an aversive (causing a strong feeling of dislike or disgust) stimulus is paired with an undesirable behavior in order to reduce or eliminate that behavior.55

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