The Psychology of Learning

stage of classical conditioning in which a conditioned response is trained

when an acquired association between an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned stimulus inhibits the formation of new associations between the unconditioned stimulus and other stimuli

learning an association between paired events, specifically learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that normally elicits an involuntary, automatic response until the neutral stimulus elicits the response on its own

response that is elicited by a conditioned stimulus

neutral stimulus that acquires the power to elicit an involuntary response by being repeatedly paired with a stimulus that normally elicits the response

when the brain differentiates between stimuli that do and do not signal the onset of the unconditioned stimulus

conditioned stimulus is presented alone repeatedly—without the unconditioned stimulus—until the conditioned stimulus loses its power to elicit the conditioned response

schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcer is delivered following the first correct response that occurs after a fixed period of time

schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcer is delivered after a fixed number of correct responses occurs

process in which stimuli similar to a conditioned stimulus elicit conditioned responses

when a conditioned stimulus is used in place of an unconditioned stimulus to build an association between another neutral stimulus and the conditioned response

law that states that behaviors that are followed by favorable consequences become more likely, whereas those that are followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

change in behavior as a result of experience

nerve cell that fires both when performing an action or when observing another perform that same action

process of demonstrating a behavior so that another can learn it

procedure for decreasing behavior by removing a desired stimulus following the behavior

procedure for increasing behavior by removing an undesired stimulus following the behavior

learning that occurs by observing the behavior of others

learning process in which voluntary behavior is shaped by its consequences

an association is more likely to be formed to a highly prominent neutral stimulus than to a weaker neutral stimulus that may also be present

when an aversive stimulus follows behavior and decreases the frequency of the behavior

when a desired stimulus follows behavior and increases the frequency of the behavior

reinforcing small steps that comprise or lead to a complex behavior

intense dislike of a particular food or liquid, often forming after a single exposure to a novel taste

involuntary reaction that an unconditioned stimulus normally elicits

stimulus that normally elicits an involuntary response

schedule of partial reinforcement in which a reinforcer is delivered after a varying period of time has elapsed

schedule of partial reinforcement in which a reinforcer is delivered after a varying number of required responses occurs