CSCC Psychology Exam 2 | 182 questions and answers | with latest study set

CSCC Psychology Exam 2 | 182 questions and answers | with latest study set continuous reinforcement - A pattern by which a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs. discriminative stimulus - A signal indicating that a particular behavior will be followed by a particular consequence. fixed-interval schedule - A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior can be reinforced after a time interval that is consistent and predictable. fixed-ratio schedule - A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced after a consistent, predictable number of occurrences. law of effect - The observation that a behavior is more likely to be repeated if its effects are desirable but less likely to be repeated if its effects are undesirable. negative reinforcement - A type of reinforcement that involves removing something undesirable. operant conditioning - A form of learning in which the consequences of a voluntary behavior affect the likelihood that the behavior will recur. partial reinforcement - (intermittent reinforcement) a pattern by which a behavior is reinforced only some of the times it occurs. positive reinforcement - A type of reinforcement that involves getting something desirable. primary reinforcer - An innate reinforcer that requires no learning to have a reinforcing effect because it satisfies a biological need. punishment - Any consequence of a behavior that makes that behavior less likely to recur. reinforcement - Any consequence of a behavior that makes that behavior more likely to recur. reinforcement schedule - A pattern by which reinforcements occur in response to a particular behavior. secondary reinforcer - A reinforcer that requires a learned link to a primary reinforcer to have a reinforcing effect shaping - The process of gradually learning a complex behavior through the reinforcement of each small step that is a part of the complex behavior. Skinner box - (originally called an operant chamber) a container into which animals such as pigeons or rats could be placed for the purpose of observing and recording their behavior in response to consequences. variable-interval schedule - A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior can be reinforced after a time interval that is inconsistent and unpredictable. variable-ratio schedule - A reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced after an inconsistent, unpredictable number of occurrences. acquisition - The point in the learning process at which the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus because of its link to the conditioned response. classical conditioning - A form of learning in which animals or people make a connection between two stimuli that have occurred together, such that one predicts the other. conditioned response - The response to a conditioned stimulus acquired through learning. conditioned stimulus - A formerly neutral stimulus that now causes a response because of its link to an unconditioned stimulus. discrimination - The learning process by which stimuli that are different from the conditioned stimulus fail to cause the same conditioned response. extinction - The point in the learning process at which the conditioned stimulus no longer causes the conditioned response because it is no longer linked to the unconditioned stimulus. generalization - The learning process by which stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus cause the same conditioned response. higher-order conditioning - Classical conditioning that involves three or more stimuli. learning - The process by which life experience causes change in the behavior or thinking of an organism. neutral stimulus - A stimulus that causes no response at all. spontaneous recovery - After a temporary period of inactivity, the return of a conditioned response that had become extinct. unconditioned response - The automatic response to a stimulus that occurs naturally, without any need for learning. unconditioned stimulus - A stimulus that causes a response automatically, without any need for learning. vicarious conditioning - Conditioning that takes place via observation of others' life experiences rather than one's own. mirror neurons - Neurons that are thought to underlie empathy and imitation and that activate when a person performs or observes a particular behavior. observational learning - A type of learning that occurs as a result of observing others' behavior and consequences rather than our own. cognitive map - A mental diagram of the physical environment as it is initially explored when no reinforcement is available. insight - The perception of a solution to a problem that results from cognitive understanding rather than from trial and error. latent learning - A type of learning that has taken place but cannot be directly observed. learned helplessness - The absence of any attempt to help oneself that results from previously learning that such attempts are useless. biological preparedness - An animal's evolutionary predisposition to learn that which is most relevant to the survival of that species. instinctive drift - The tendency of animals' behavior to return to innate, genetically programmed patterns. affect heuristic - An educated guess in which the worth of something is strongly influenced by how a person feels toward it. affective forecasting - Predicting how a person will feel about the outcomes of his or her decisions. algorithm - A formula-like method of problem solving. anchoring heuristic - An educated guess in which the starting point has a strong influence on the conclusion that is ultimately reached. availability heuristic - An educated guess based on the information that most quickly and easily comes to mind. cognition - What the brain does with information, including understanding it, organizing it, analyzing it, and communicating it.