autoshaping

n. a form of conditioning in which a subject that has been given reinforcement following a stimulus, regardless of its response to that stimulus, consistently performs an irrelevant behavior. The classic example is a pigeon that receives food after a light goes on, then conditions itself to peck at the light even though the pecking is not necessary to receive the food.

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Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

public-speaking anxiety

fear of giving a speech or presentation in public because of the expectation of being negatively evaluated or humiliated by others. This is a common fear, associated with social phobia.