Learning

a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience

Behaviorism

the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment as a determinant

Basic Learning; associations between environmental stimuli and the organisms response.

Association

Linking two events/stimuli that occur together in space or time

Classical conditioning

Process by which a previous neutral stimulus elicits a response through association with a stimulus that already exists or later response. (Ivan Pavlov)

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

before the unconditional response, in the absence of learning

Reflective response from an unconditional stimulus(ex: mouth waters when seeing food)

Conditional Stimulus

Neutral stimulus that is associated after the unconditional stimulus and response

Conditional Response

response to a conditional stimulus

Extinction

Spontaneous Recovery

reappearance of a learned response of a rest period(extinction)

after conditioning; the tendency to respond to a stimulus that resembles the original conditioning (ex: child is afraid of a mouse, he generalizes that he is also afraid of bunnies)

Discrimination

learned ability to distinguish between two stimuli and respond differently. (ex: child is afraid of mouse. Sees a bunny and likes it)

reversing the effects of conditioning; pairing a stimulus that elicits a response incompatible with an unwanted response (ex: teaching the child not to be afraid of mice)

Trial and error learning (B.F. Skinner)

Law of Effect

frequency of a behavior is a function/operation of the consequences that follow the behavior (positive consequences strengthen behavior negative weakens it)

set (a quantity)

Ratio

Behavior (response)

Variable

changing

time period

rewarding desired behavior

Behavior Changing

set of discrete behaviors sequenced in a particular order

Punishment

stimuli/event weakens the probability of responses that it follows

Reasoning Rationally

mental process that generates propositions (judging, predicting)

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Heuristics

Rule of Thumb; suggests a course of action/guide problem solving doesn't guarantee an optimal solution (Informal Reasoning)

Dialectical Thinking

Opposing facts/ideas are weighted and compared with a view to determining the best solution or resolving the diffences (Informal Reasoning)

Algorithm

set of procedures that are guaranteed to produce a solution even if there is no understanding

Exaggerating the improbable, estimating likelihood of events based on their availability in memory. assuming great events are common (Barrier to Learning)

Representative Heuristics

judging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match particular prototypes (Barrier to Learning)

how an issue is framed can significantly affect decision and judgment (95% verses 5% most go with 95%)Barrier to Reasoning

Confirmation Bias

pays attention to info to confirm their own belief(barrier to reasoning)

inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective(barrier to reasoning)

Functional Fixation

tendency to perceive the function of objects as fixed/unchanging. (pushing on a door that says pull) Barrier to reasoning

tendency to overestimate one's ability to predict the future (barrier to reasoning)

Need for Cognitive Consistency

When there is inconsistency between behavior and belief Ex: smoking is bad, yet some still do it.

Belief Perseverance

clinging to one initial conception after the bases has been discredited. Ex: continuing with their belief even when they know they're wrong

Cognitive Distance

State of tension. Hold two opposing views/beliefs

Memory

Internal record of a prior event/experience. Set of mental processes that receives, encodes, organizes, stores, alters, and retreives information overtime

Sensory Memory

Working Memory; limited capacity, in the retina of the eye for a brief period

Storing information relatively permanent

In Long-Term Memory; with conscious recall

Semantic

general knowledge Ex: What happened on 9/11? (words)

Episodic

personal experience Ex: where were you on 9/11?

unconscious recall

learned actions/skills. Ex: riding a bike. (Long-term memory)

must retrieve information learned earlier (fill in the blank tests)

identify items previously learned (multiple choice)

Relearning

Activation, often unconsciously, bring old memory to strengthen new information.

Mnemonic Devices

needing of things necessary to live (water, sleep)

Secondary Reinforcer

wanting, learned, (money)

stimulating events causes emotions and physical changes (sweating and muscle tension)

James and Lange

Emotion happens as a result of physical changes (heart rate increases)

Schatcher and Singer

emotion is cognitive (suspension theory- man stands on rigidity bridge, heart races, sees a woman and thinks his heart is racing because of her, Love)

Past information hinders/ is incompatible with new information