AP Psychology: Mechanisms of Learning and Behavior

Associative Learning

A learning process in which a subject learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Ivan Pavlov

The pioneer of classical conditioning who discovered linking responses to stimuli.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS/US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR/UR)

The unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Originally a neutral stimulus that, after association with the UCS, triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Acquisition

The phase when the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus are presented together.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a weak conditioned response after a pause following extinction.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli.

John B. Watson

The psychologist who conducted the controversial Little Albert experiment applying classical conditioning to humans.

Operant Conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is controlled by consequences.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behavior.

Fixed-Ratio (FR)

A schedule of reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Variable-Ratio (VR)

A schedule of reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-Interval (FI)

A schedule of reinforcement after a fixed time period.

Variable-Interval (VI)

A schedule of reinforcement after an unpredictable time period.

Albert Bandura

Psychologist known for his work on observational learning and the Bobo doll experiment.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Insight Learning

A sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Learned Helplessness

The condition where individuals stop trying to avoid aversive events despite having the ability to escape.

Taste Aversion

The biological predisposition to associate nausea with taste.