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Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/21/2008

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Term
conditioning
Definition
the process of learning associations between enviromental events and behavioral responses.
Term
learning
Definition
a process that produces a relatively enduring change in behavior or knowledge as a result of past experience.
Term
classical conditioning
Definition
the basic learning process that involves repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with a response-producing stimulus until the neutral stimulus elicits the same response.
Term
UCS(unconditioned stimulus)
Definition
the natural stimulus that reflezively elicits a response without the need for prior learning.
Term
UCR(unconditioned response)
Definition
the unlearned reflexive response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.
Term
CS(conditioned stimulus)
Definition
a formerly neutral stimulus that acquires the capacity to elicit a reflexive response.
Term
CR(conditioned response)
Definition
the learned, reflexive response to a conditioned stimulus
Term
stimulus generalization
Definition
the occurrenc of a learned response not only to the original stimulus but to other, similar stimuli as well.
Term
stimulus discrimination
Definition
the occurrence of a learned response to a specific stimulus but not to other, similar stimuli
Term
extinction( in classical cond.)
Definition
the gradual weakening an apparent disappearance of conditioned behavior. in classical conditioning, extintion occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
Term
spontaneous recovery
Definition
the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of time without exposure to the conditioned stimulus
Term
operant
Definition
Skinner's term for an actively emitted(or voluntary) behavior that operates on the enviroment to produce consequences.
Term
operant conditioning
Definition
the basic learning process that involves changing the probability that a response will be repeated by manipulating the consequences of that response.
Term
reinforcement
Definition
the occurrence of a stimulus of event following a response that increases the likelihood of that response being repeated.
Term
positive reinforcement
Definition
a situation in which a response is followed by the addition of a reinforcing stimulus increasing the likelihood that the response will be repeated in similar situations.
Term
negative reinforcement
Definition
a situation in which a response results in the removal of, avoidance of, or escape from a punishing stimulus, increasing the likelihood that the response will be repeated in similar situations
Term
primary reinforcer
Definition
a stimulus or event that is naturally or inherently reinforcing for a given species, such as food, water, or other biological necessities.
Term
conditioned reinforcer
Definition
a stimulus or event that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer
Term
punishment
Definition
the presentation of a stimulus or event following a behavior that acts to decrease the likelihood of the behavior's being reported
Term
shaping
Definition
the operant conditioning procedure of selectively reinforcing successively closer approximations of a goal behavior until the goal behavior is displayed
Term
continuous reinforcement
Definition
a schedule of reinforcement in which every occurrence of a particular response is reinforced.
Term
partial reinforcement effect
Definition
the phenomenon in which behaviors that are conditioned using partial reinforcement are more resisant to extinction than behaviors that are conditioned using continuous reinforcement.
Term
fixed-ratio (FR) schedule
Definition
a reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcer is delivered after a fixed number of responses has occurred.
Term
variable-ratio (VR) schedule
Definition
a reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcer is delivered after an average number of responses, which varies unpredictably from trial to trial
Term
variable-interval (VI) schedule
Definition
a reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcer is delivered for the first response that occurs after an average time interval, which varies unpredictably from trial to trial.
Term
memory
Definition
the mental processes that enable us to retain and use information over time
Term
encoding
Definition
the process of transforming info into a form that can be entered into and retained by the memory system
Term
storage
Definition
the process of retaining info in memory so that it can be used at a later time.
Term
retrieval
Definition
the process of recovering info stored in memory so that we are consciously aware of it
Term
stage model of memory
Definition
a model describing memory as consisting of three distinct stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Term
sensory memory
Definition
stage of memory that registers info from the enviroment and holds it for a very brief period of time.
Term
short-term memory
Definition
the active stage of memory in which info is stored for up to about 20 seconds
Term
long-term memory
Definition
the stage of memory that represents the long-term storage of info.
Term
elaborative rehearsal
Definition
rehearsal that involves focusing on the meaning of info to help encode
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