1.5 Avoidance Learning Flashcards
what is escape
turning off some currently occurring aversive event
what is avoidance
preventing some aversive event from occurring
briefly describe the process of shuttleboxes used to simulate escape learning
- barrier divided box, one half w a grid
- warning signal comes on, followed by mild foot shock through grid floor
- subject can escape shock by leaping over barrier to safe area
after the rat is exposed to the warning light and shock what will it learn to do
avoid: jump over the barrier to avoid the shock altogether
what does the two-process theory explain?
how fear and avoidance behaviours are acquired and maintained, through two distinct processes of classical and operant conditioning. suggests that fear is acquired through classical conditioning, and avoidance behaviors are maintained through operant conditioning.
how does the two-process theory explain that avoidance behaviours can be difficult to change?
behaviours are reinforced by the reduction of fear and anxiety so more likely to be done again
outline the conditioned fear phase of the two-process theory
the CLASSICAL part
- the warning sign precedes the shock
- the shock produces fear
- with repeated trials, the warning signal begins to generate fear itself just by seeing it
outline the fear reduction phase of the two-process theory
the OPERANT part
- reinforcement is reduction of fear
- animal moves away from the warning sign and fear is reduced
- reduction of fear is a negative reinforcer
outline two problems with the two-factor theory
- 2-process theory assumes classical conditioning must come first, but avoidance can occur in the absence of a WS that hasn’t been paired with a fear response
- it assumes a strong relationship between fear and avoidance, but avoidance can occur even when there’s no fear to the WS
