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AP Psychology Vocab - Learning Flashcards

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5387657746learningthe cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge0
5387657747classical conditioninga type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events1
5387657748stimulusa change in an organism's surroundings that causes the organism to react2
5387657749neutral stimulusa stimulus that does not initially elicit a response3
5387657750unconditioned stimulusin classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response4
5387657751unconditioned responsein classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.5
5387657752conditioned stimulusin classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response6
5387657753acquisitionan ability that has been acquired by training (process)7
5387657754extinctiona conditioning process in which the reinforcer is removed and a conditioned response becomes independent of the conditioned stimulus8
5387657755spontaneous recoverythe reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response9
5387657756generalization(psychology) transfer of a response learned to one stimulus to a similar stimulus10
5387657757discriminationin classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus11
5387657758higher-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.)12
5387657759aversive conditioningA type of counterconditioning that associates an unpleasant state (such as nausea) with an unwanted behavior (such as drinking alcohol)13
5387657761law of effectThorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely14
5387657762operant conditioningA type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher15
5387657763positive reinforcementany stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response16
5387657764primary reinforceran innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need17
5387657765secondary reinforcerstimulus such as money that becomes reinforcing through its link with a primary reinforcer18
5387657768negative reinforcementincreasing the strength of a given response by removing or preventing a painful stimulus when the response occurs19
5387657769punishmentan event that decreases the behavior that it follows20
5387657771shapingan operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior21
5387657772continuous reinforcementreinforcing the desired response every time it occurs22
5387657773partial reinforcementoccasional reinforcement of a particular behavior; produces response that is more resistant to extinction23
5387657774fixed ratioa schedule where reinforcement happens after a correct number of responses24
5387657775fixed intervalreinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed25
5387657776variable ratioa schedule where reinforcement happens after a varied number of responses26
5387657777variable intervala schedule where reinforcement happens after a varied length of time27
5387657780token economyan operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token of some sort for exhibiting a desired behavior and can later exchange the tokens for various privileges or treats28
5387657785latent learninglearning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it29
5387657787observational learningA type of learning that occurs when an organism's responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models.30
5387704712behaviorismAn approach to psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment as a determinant of behavior31
5387704713cognitive 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.32
5387704714extrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment33
5387706702intrinsic motivationa desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake34
5387706703mirror 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, language learning, and empathy.35
5387706704modelingthe process of observing and imitating a specific behavior36
5387706705operant chamberin operant conditioning research, 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; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.37
5387709066prosocial behaviorpositive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.38
5387710713respondent behaviorbehavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus39
5387713557operant behaviorbehavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences40

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