Learning |
Any relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience or practice. |
Reflex |
An involuntary response, one that is not under personal control or choice. |
Classical conditioning |
Learning to make an involuntary response to a stimulus other than the original, natural stimulus that normally produces the response. |
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) |
In classical conditioning, a naturally occurring stimulus that leads to an involuntary and unlearned response. |
Unconditioned response (UCR) |
In classical conditioning, an involuntary and unlearned response to a naturally occurring or unconditioned stimulus. |
Neutral stimulus (NS) |
In classical conditioning, a stimulus that has no effect on the desired response prior to conditioning. |
Conditioned stimulus (CS) |
In classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that becomes able to produce a conditioned response, after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned response (CR) |
In classical conditioning, a learned response to a conditioned stimulus. |
Stimulus generalization |
The tendency to response to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned stimulus with the conditioned response. |
Stimulus discrimination |
The tendency to stop making a generalized response to a stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus because the similar stimulus is never paired with the unconditioned stimulus. |
Extinction |
The disappearance or weakening of a learned response following the removal or absence of the unconditioned stimulus or the removal of a reinforcer. |
Spontaneous recovery |
The reappearance of a learned response after extinction has occurred. |
Higher order conditioning |
Occurs when a strong conditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, causing the neutral stimulus to become a second conditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned emotional response |
Emotional response that has become classically conditioned to occur to learned stimuli, such as a fear of dogs or the emotional reaction that occurs when seeing an attractive person. |
Vicarious conditioning |
Classical conditioning of an involuntary response or emotion by watching the reaction of another person. |
Conditioned taste aversion |
Development of a nausea or aversive response to a particular taste because that taste was followed by a nausea reaction, occurring after only one association. |
Cognitive perspective |
Modern perspective in psychology that focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning. |
Operant conditioning |
The learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences to response. |
Law of effect |
Law stating that if an action is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated, and if followed by an unpleasant consequences, it will tend not to be repeated. |
Operant |
Any behavior that is voluntary and not elicited by specific stimuli. |
Reinforcement |
Any event or stimulus, that when following a response, increases the probability that the response will occur again. |
Reinforcers |
Any events or objects, that when following a response, increase the likelihood of that response occurring again. |
Primary reinforcer |
Any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch. |
Secondary reinforcer |
Any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars. |
Positive reinforcement |
The reinforcement of a response by the addition or experiencing of a pleasurable stimulus. |
Negative reinforcement |
The reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. |
Partial reinforcement effect |
The tendency for a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses to be very resistant to extinction. |
Continuous reinforcement |
The reinforcement of each and every correct response. |
Fixed interval schedule of reinforcement |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is always the same. |
Variable interval schedule of reinforcement |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is different for each trial or event. |
Fixed ratio |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is always the same. |
Variable ratio |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is different for each trial or event. |
Punishment |
Any event or object that, when following a response, makes that response less likely to happen again. |
Punishment by application |
The punishment of a response by the addition or experiencing of an unpleasant stimulus. |
Punishment by removal |
The punishment of a response by the removal of a pleasurable stimulus. |
Discriminative stimulus |
Any stimulus, such as a stop sign or a doorknob, that provides the organism with a cue for making a certain response in order to obtain reinforcement. |
Shaping |
The reinforcement of simple steps in behavior through successive approximations that lead to a desired, more complex behavior. |
Instinctive drift |
Tendency for an animals behavior to revert to genetically controlled patterns. |
Behavior modification |
The use of learning techniques to modify or change undesirable behavior and increase desirable behavior. |
Token economy |
The use of objects called tokens to reinforce behavior in which the tokens can be accumulated and exchanged for desired items or privileges. |
Applied behavior analysis |
Modern term for a form of functional analysis and behavior modification that uses a variety of behavioral techniques to mold a desired behavior or response. |
Biofeedback |
Using feedback about biological conditions to bring involuntary responses, such as blood pressure and relaxation, under voluntary control. |
Neurofeedback |
Form of biofeedback using brain-scanning devices to provide feedback about brain activity in an effort to modify behavior. |
Latent learning |
Learning that remains hidden until its application becomes useful. |
Insight |
The sudden perception of relationships among various parts of a problem, allowing the solution to the problem to come quickly. |
Learned helplessness |
The tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past. |
Observational learning |
Learning new behavior by watching a model perform that behavior. |
Learning/performance distinction |
Referring to the observation that learning can take place without actual performance of the learned behavior. |
Learning |
Any relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience or practice. |
Reflex |
An involuntary response, one that is not under personal control or choice. |
Classical conditioning |
Learning to make an involuntary response to a stimulus other than the original, natural stimulus that normally produces the response. |
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) |
In classical conditioning, a naturally occurring stimulus that leads to an involuntary and unlearned response. |
Unconditioned response (UCR) |
In classical conditioning, an involuntary and unlearned response to a naturally occurring or unconditioned stimulus. |
Neutral stimulus (NS) |
In classical conditioning, a stimulus that has no effect on the desired response prior to conditioning. |
Conditioned stimulus (CS) |
In classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that becomes able to produce a conditioned response, after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned response (CR) |
In classical conditioning, a learned response to a conditioned stimulus. |
Stimulus generalization |
The tendency to response to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned stimulus with the conditioned response. |
Stimulus discrimination |
The tendency to stop making a generalized response to a stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus because the similar stimulus is never paired with the unconditioned stimulus. |
Extinction |
The disappearance or weakening of a learned response following the removal or absence of the unconditioned stimulus or the removal of a reinforcer. |
Spontaneous recovery |
The reappearance of a learned response after extinction has occurred. |
Higher order conditioning |
Occurs when a strong conditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, causing the neutral stimulus to become a second conditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned emotional response |
Emotional response that has become classically conditioned to occur to learned stimuli, such as a fear of dogs or the emotional reaction that occurs when seeing an attractive person. |
Vicarious conditioning |
Classical conditioning of an involuntary response or emotion by watching the reaction of another person. |
Conditioned taste aversion |
Development of a nausea or aversive response to a particular taste because that taste was followed by a nausea reaction, occurring after only one association. |
Cognitive perspective |
Modern perspective in psychology that focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning. |
Operant conditioning |
The learning of voluntary behavior through the effects of pleasant and unpleasant consequences to response. |
Law of effect |
Law stating that if an action is followed by a pleasurable consequence, it will tend to be repeated, and if followed by an unpleasant consequences, it will tend not to be repeated. |
Operant |
Any behavior that is voluntary and not elicited by specific stimuli. |
Reinforcement |
Any event or stimulus, that when following a response, increases the probability that the response will occur again. |
Reinforcers |
Any events or objects, that when following a response, increase the likelihood of that response occurring again. |
Primary reinforcer |
Any reinforcer that is naturally reinforcing by meeting a basic biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch. |
Secondary reinforcer |
Any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars. |
Positive reinforcement |
The reinforcement of a response by the addition or experiencing of a pleasurable stimulus. |
Negative reinforcement |
The reinforcement of a response by the removal, escape from, or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. |
Partial reinforcement effect |
The tendency for a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses to be very resistant to extinction. |
Continuous reinforcement |
The reinforcement of each and every correct response. |
Fixed interval schedule of reinforcement |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is always the same. |
Variable interval schedule of reinforcement |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the interval of time that must pass before reinforcement becomes possible is different for each trial or event. |
Fixed ratio |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is always the same. |
Variable ratio |
Schedule of reinforcement in which the number of responses required for reinforcement is different for each trial or event. |
Punishment |
Any event or object that, when following a response, makes that response less likely to happen again. |
Punishment by application |
The punishment of a response by the addition or experiencing of an unpleasant stimulus. |
Punishment by removal |
The punishment of a response by the removal of a pleasurable stimulus. |
Discriminative stimulus |
Any stimulus, such as a stop sign or a doorknob, that provides the organism with a cue for making a certain response in order to obtain reinforcement. |
Shaping |
The reinforcement of simple steps in behavior through successive approximations that lead to a desired, more complex behavior. |
Instinctive drift |
Tendency for an animals behavior to revert to genetically controlled patterns. |
Behavior modification |
The use of learning techniques to modify or change undesirable behavior and increase desirable behavior. |
Token economy |
The use of objects called tokens to reinforce behavior in which the tokens can be accumulated and exchanged for desired items or privileges. |
Applied behavior analysis |
Modern term for a form of functional analysis and behavior modification that uses a variety of behavioral techniques to mold a desired behavior or response. |
Biofeedback |
Using feedback about biological conditions to bring involuntary responses, such as blood pressure and relaxation, under voluntary control. |
Neurofeedback |
Form of biofeedback using brain-scanning devices to provide feedback about brain activity in an effort to modify behavior. |
Latent learning |
Learning that remains hidden until its application becomes useful. |
Insight |
The sudden perception of relationships among various parts of a problem, allowing the solution to the problem to come quickly. |
Learned helplessness |
The tendency to fail to act to escape from a situation because of a history of repeated failures in the past. |
Observational learning |
Learning new behavior by watching a model perform that behavior. |
Learning/performance distinction |
Referring to the observation that learning can take place without actual performance of the learned behavior. |