AP Psych Classical vs. Operant Conditioning Matching Game

20 terms from the Learning unit — both classical (Pavlovian) and operant (Skinnerian) conditioning — match each term to its definition. Tap a term or a definition to select it, in either order; tap again to deselect. No login required.

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Higher-Order Conditioning

Negative Punishment

Stimulus Generalization

Premack Principle

Shaping

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Conditioned Response (CR)

Negative Reinforcement

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Stimulus Discrimination

Positive Punishment

Positive Reinforcement

Spontaneous Recovery

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Variable-Interval Schedule

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Extinction

Acquisition

A previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated pairing with a UCS, comes to trigger a learned response on its own.

Reinforcement delivered after an unpredictable number of responses — produces the highest, steadiest response rate (e.g., slot machines).

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response, with no learning required (e.g., food).

Responding the same way to stimuli that merely resemble the original conditioned stimulus.

Removing an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior to make the behavior more likely to happen again.

Reinforcement delivered after a set, unchanging number of correct responses (e.g., every 5th response).

Adding an unpleasant stimulus after a behavior to make the behavior less likely to happen again.

Using an already-established CS to condition a new, neutral stimulus, without the original UCS present.

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus, once that stimulus has been paired with a UCS.

The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the CS is no longer paired with the UCS.

An unlearned, automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating at food).

Reinforcement delivered for the first correct response after a set amount of time has passed.

Reinforcing successively closer approximations of a target behavior until the exact behavior appears.

The initial stage of classical conditioning, when a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a UCS until it becomes a CS.

Using a behavior someone already does often as the reinforcer for a behavior they do less often.

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest period, with no new conditioning.

Reinforcement delivered for the first correct response after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Removing a desirable stimulus after a behavior to make the behavior less likely to happen again.

The learned ability to tell the conditioned stimulus apart from other, similar stimuli that don’t signal the UCS.

Adding a desirable stimulus after a behavior to make the behavior more likely to happen again.

Study tip

The single most common AP Psych mix-up: reinforcement always increases a behavior and punishment always decreases one — "positive" and "negative" just mean adding or removing something, not good or bad. If you can’t immediately say which of those two axes a term sits on, that’s the gap to close before the exam, not the definition itself.

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