Classical conditioning
UCS (Food), UCR (salivation), CS (bell), CR (salivating after bell)
Conditioned emotional reaction
Reacting emotionally because of conditioning, like Little Albert
Determinism
We are a product of our environment and conditioning, and every thought, emotion and behavior is also. Behavior is caused in a lawful scientific manner, which makes it predictable.
Situational specificity
Behavior varies from situation to situation because they are different environments, and provide different rewards and punishments.
Generalization
In classical conditioning, the conditioned response can occur to other stimuli that are NOT the original conditioned stimuli but are SIMILAR.
Discrimination
Discrimination can happen after generalization, if we are “trained” to only elicit a conditioned response to a SPECIFIC conditioned stimuli. For example, a circle is shown to a dog before food, so it salivates when being shown the circle, and then also when it’s presented with a triangle. But when it discovers that no food follows the triangle, it stops salivating when being shown the triangle. It has learned to discriminate between the two shapes.
Extinction
After classical conditioning, if the unconditioned stimuli is no longer following the conditioned stimulus, the conditioned stimulus no longer causes a conditioned response. For example, if the bell rings but no food follows it anymore, the dog stops salivating when hearing it.
Systemic desensitization
Used in therapy to treat anxiety. The client is first taught relaxation techniques like meditation as a form of counter-conditioning and then is asked to imagine progressively “scarier” anxiety-inducing scenarios while relaxed. Between each “step” the client must not show anxiety as the result of the thought, and so a “scarier” one is presented.
Counterconditioning
Learning a new, more adaptive response to replace a maladaptive one, that is incompatible with it. For example, learning relaxation techniques to combat anxiety.
Operant conditioning
Behavior that is guided by punishments or rewards.
Positive reinforcement/Positiv förstärkning
Giving something good so good behavior is repeated. For example: After cleaning the house, a kid is given money by his parents, so he is more likely to clean again.
Negative reinforcement/Negativ förstärkning
Taking away something bad so good behavior is repeated. Example: A kid is grounded but cleans the house, so parents decide to un-ground the kid.
Positive punishment/Positiv bestraffning
Giving something bad so bad behavior isn’t repeated. Example: A kid gets grounded after making a mess in the house.
Negative punishment/Negativ bestraffning
Taking away something good so that bad behavior isn’t repeated. Example: Kid stops getting monthly allowance for making a mess in the house.
Reinforcer
The consequence that follows a behavior, that makes it more likely or less likely to be repeated. For example: Grounding or allowance.
Generalized reinforcer
A reinforcer that can be used across situations and still be effective, so it’s not only effective in a specific circumstance. Example: money, praise, social praise.
Schedules of reinforcement
The frequency and consistency with which reinforcers occur after a behavior, and can therefore can affect its effectivity and how easy and difficult it is to extinguish it.
Time-based interval
A type of schedule of reinforcement that is based on the amount of time from the behavior to the reinforcement, and not the number of responses.
Response-based interval
A type of schedule of reinforcement where reinforcements appear only after a certain number of responses have been made, regardless of the time period in between.
Fixed reinforcement schedule
Responses after a behavior happen consistently and can be predicted, regardless of whether they’re time-or response-based. Like a vending machine.
Variable reinforcement schedule
Responses after a behavior happen inconsistently, so they can’t be predicted, like a casino machine.
Shaping/successive approximation
Reinforcing behavior until they create a complex response, by rewarding “small steps” that get more and more complex, like teaching the mouse to run in a circle.
Punishment
An aversive stimulus follows a response, decreasing the chance of the behavior being repeated.
Target behaviors/responses
A relevant behavior that is studied as a part of a personality (even though personality isn’t really a thing in behaviorism). It’s relevant for figuring out which environmental factors reinforce the target behavior, and how the environment can be manipulated to alter the behavior.
