Behaviorism and Reflexes in Psychology

A scientific approach to studying behavior that focuses on observable actions and their relationship to environmental factors. It proposes that behavior is a function of the organism and its environment.

A type of measurement scale used to assess opinions, attitudes, or beliefs by asking individuals to rate their response on a numbered scale, typically from 1 to 10.

A type of behavior that is innate and inherited from our ancestors. These behaviors are present from birth and usually occur in response to specific stimuli.

A simple, automatic response to a specific stimulus.

The minimum amount of stimulus intensity required to elicit a response.

The more intense a stimulus is, the faster a response will be elicited.

A decrease in the intensity or probability of a reflex response due to repeated exposure to the stimulus that evokes the response.

A series of related actions found in almost all members of a species, triggered by specific stimuli.

A general behavioral tendency strongly influenced by genes, like introversion, anxiety levels, and aggression.

The process of natural selection is slow and not effective for sudden changes in the environment.

A change in behavior due to experience or the environment, manifested in changes like frequency, intensity, speed, or form of the behavior.

A type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring stimulus, eliciting a learned response.

A stimulus that elicits a behavior without prior learning.

The behavior elicited by an unconditioned stimulus without prior learning.

A previously neutral stimulus that, through association with an unconditioned stimulus, acquires the ability to elicit a conditioned response.

The learned behavior elicited by the conditioned stimulus.

A test trial where the conditioned stimulus is presented alone to see if the learned response is elicited.

The gradual disappearance of a learned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

The reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction and a period of time has passed.

When an organism shows a conditioned response to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

A therapy method that links an undesirable behavior with a negative stimulus to reduce its occurrence.

A procedure used to reduce the frequency of a behavior by removing a stimulus after it occurs.

The concept that consequences influence behavior.

The study of how a stimulus following a behavior affects the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

A stimulus that prompts a specific behavior because it signals the possibility of reinforcement.

A gradual increase in a behavior's frequency, duration, intensity, speed, or complexity.

The process of withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, leading to its gradual decrease.

A brief, rapid increase in responding immediately following the removal of reinforcement.

A rule that defines how reinforcement is delivered, creating distinct behavior patterns.

The process of gradually shaping a desired behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of the target behavior.

The tendency for an organism to respond to stimuli similar to the originally trained discriminative stimulus.

A gradual decrease in the likelihood of responding to stimuli that are increasingly different from the original discriminative stimulus.

An increase in the likelihood of a behavior occurring due to the addition of a stimulus following that behavior.

An increase in the likelihood of a behavior occurring due to the removal of a stimulus following that behavior.