A relatively enduring change in behavior or thinking that results from experiences
Habituation
A basic form of learning evident when an organism does not respond as strongly or as often to an event following multiple exposures to it
Stimulus
An event or occurrence that generally leads to a response
Neutral Stimulus
A stimulus that does not cause a relevant automatic reflexive response
Classical Conditioning
Learning process in which two stimuli become associated with each other; when an originally neutral stimulus is conditioned to elicit an involuntary resposne
Unconditioned Stimulus
A stimulus that automatically triggers an involuntary response without any learning needed
Unconditioned Response
A reflexive involuntary response to an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Stimulus
A previously neutral stimulus that an organism learns to associate with an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Response
A learned response to a conditioned stimulus
Acquisition
The initial learning phase in both classical and operant conditioning
Stimulus Generalization
The tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit the conditioned response
Stimulus Discrimination
The ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli sufficiently different from it
Extinction
In classical conditioning the process by which the CR decreases after repeated exposure to the CS in the absence of the US; in operant conditioning, the disappearance of a learned behavior through the removal of its reinforcer
Spontaneous Recovery
In classical conditioning, the reappearance of the conditioned response following its extinction; occurs in response to the conditioned stimulus after a period of rest
Higher Order Conditioning
With repeated pairings of a conditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus, the second neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus as well
A form of classical conditioning that occurs when an organism learns to associate the taste of a particular food or drink with illness
Adaptive Value
The degree to which a trait or behavior helps an organism survive
Biological Prepardness
The tendency for animals to be predisposed or inclined to form associations
Conditioned Emotional Response
An emotional reaction acquired through classical conditioning; process by which an emotional reaction becomes associated with a previously neutral stimulus
Operant Conditioning
Learning that occurs when voluntary actions become associated with their consequences
Law of Effect
Thorndikes Principle stating that behaviors are more likely to be repeated when followed by pleasurrable outcomes, and those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to be repeated
Reinforcers
Consequences, such as events or objects, that increase the likelihood of a behavior reoccuring
Reinforcement
Process by which an organism learns to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences
Behaviorism
The scientific study of observable behavior
Shaping
The use of reinforcers to guide behavior to the acquisition of a desired complex behavior
Successive Approximation
A method of shaping that uses reinforcers to condition a series of small steps that gradually approach the target behavior
Instinctive Drift
The tendency for animals to revert to instinctual behaviors after a behavior pattern has been learned
Positive Reinforcement
The process in which pleasant reinforcers are added or presented following the targeted behavior, increasing the likelihood of it occurring again
Negative Reinforcement
The removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a target behavior, which increases the likelihood of it occurring again
A reinforcer that satisfies a biological need such as food, water, physical contact; innate reinforcer
Secondary Reinforcer
Reinforcers that do not satisfy biological needs but often gain their power through their association with primary reinforcers
Continuous Reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement in which every target behavior in reinforced
Partial Reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement in which target behaviors are reinforced intermittently, not continuously
Partial Reinforcement Effect
The tendency for behaviors acquired through intermittent reinforcement to be more resistant to extinction than those acquired through continuous reinforcement
Fixed Ratio Schedule
A schedule in which the subject must exhibit a predetermined number of desired behaviors before a reinforcer is given
Variable Ratio Schedule
A schedule in which the number of desired responses or behaviors that must occur before a reinforcer is given changes across trials and is based on an average number of responses reinforced
Fixed Interval Schedule
A schedule in which the reinforcer comes after a preestablished interval of time goes by; the response or behavior is only reinforced after the given interval is over
Variable Interval Schedule
A schedule in which the reinforcer comes after an interval of time goes by, but the length of the interval changes from trial to trial
Punishment
The application of a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring
Positive Punishment
The addition of something unpleasant following an unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing that behavior
Negative Punishment
The removal of something desirable following ab unwanted behavior, with the intention of decreasing the behavior
Model
The individual or character whose behavior is being imitated
Observational Learning
Learning that occurs as a result of watching the behavior of others
Prosocial Behaviors
Actions that are kind, generous and benefit others
Cognitive Map
The mental image of the layout of physical space
Latent Learning
Learning that occurs without awareness and regardless of reinforcement, and is not evident until needed