| A | B |
|---|
| acquisition | the initial stage in classical conditioning; the phase associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus comes to elicit a conditioned response. In operant conditioning |
| associative learning | learning 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). |
| behaviorism | the 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). |
| classical conditioning | a type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli. A neutral stimulus that signals an unconditioned stimulus (US) begins to produce a response that anticipates and prepares for the unconditioned stimulus. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning. |
| cognitive map | a mental representation of the layout of one's environment. For example |
| conditioned reinforcer | a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as secondary reinforcer. |
| conditioned response | in classical conditioning |
| conditioned stimulus | in classical conditioning |
| continuous reinforcement | reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs. |
| discrimination | in classical conditioning |
| extinction | the 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. |
| extrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment. |
| generalization | the tendency |
| intrinsic motivation | a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake. |
| latent learning | learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it. |
| law of effect | Thorndikes principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely |
| learning | a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience. |
| mirror neurons | frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brains mirroring of anothers action may enable imitation |
| modeling | the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. |
| negative reinforcement | increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli |
| observational learning | learning by observing others. |
| operant behavior | behavior that operates on the environment |
| operant chamber | a chamber also known as a Skinner box |
| operant conditioning | a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher. |
| partial reinforcement | reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement. |
| positive reinforcement | increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli |
| primary reinforcer | an innately reinforcing stimulus |
| prosocial behavior | positive |
| punishment | an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. |
| reinforcer | in operant conditioning |
| respondent behavior | behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus; Skinners term for behavior learned through classical conditioning. |
| shaping | an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. |
| spontaneous recovery | the reappearance |
| unconditioned response | in classical conditioning |
| unconditioned stimulus | in classical conditioning |
