Page 1: Types of Learning and Key Researchers

This page introduces several important types of learning studied in AP psychology unit 4: learning.

Insight Learning Wolfgang Köhler studied insight learning, which involves suddenly realizing how to solve a problem.

Example: Chimpanzees stacking boxes to reach a hanging banana demonstrates insight learning.

Latent Learning Edward Tolman researched latent learning, where learning occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Vocabulary: Cognitive maps are mental representations of the layout of one's environment.

Example: In Tolman's experiments, rats appeared to form cognitive maps of mazes they explored.

Social Learning Albert Bandura studied observational learning, also called modeling.

Definition: Social learning occurs by observing and imitating members of the same species.

Mirror Neurons Mirror neurons fire both when performing certain actions and when observing others perform those actions.

Highlight: Mirror neurons may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy in humans.

The page also includes a graph showing the acquisition and extinction of conditioned responses over time in classical conditioning, a key concept in AP psychology conditioning researchers and theories.

Page 3: Classical Conditioning in Detail

This page provides an in-depth look at classical conditioning, a fundamental concept in AP psychology unit 4: learning.

Definition: Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

Key terms in classical conditioning:

1. Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response.
2. Unconditioned Response (UR): The unlearned, natural response to the US.
3. Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that does not normally elicit a response.
4. Conditioned Stimulus (CS): An originally neutral stimulus that comes to trigger a response after association with the US.
5. Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the CS.

Highlight: The NS and CS are always the same, while the UCR and CR are typically the same.

Important processes in classical conditioning:

1. Acquisition: The initial stage where the NS is associated with the US.
2. Extinction: The diminishing of the CR when the CS no longer signals the US.
3. Spontaneous Recovery: The reappearance of an extinguished CR after a rest period.
4. Stimulus Generalization: The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.
5. Stimulus Discrimination: The learned ability to distinguish between the CS and other stimuli.
6. Higher-Order Conditioning: When a new neutral stimulus becomes a new CS.

Example: In higher-order conditioning, if a dog salivates at a bell (CS), and the bell is repeatedly paired with a light flash (NS), the dog may eventually salivate at the light alone (new CS).

These concepts are crucial for understanding the detailed AP psychology classical and operant conditioning processes.