1a) Learning

Question 1

Define Learning

Answer 1

“a process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in an organism’s behavior or capabilities.”

Question 2

What are the 4 basic learning processes?

Answer 2

Non-associative learning – response to repeated stimuli

Classical conditioning – Learning what events signal

Operant conditioning - Learning one thing leads to another (learning from consequences)

Observational learning – Learning from observing others

Question 3

give an example of an experiment showing classical conditioning

Answer 3

• e.g pavlov’s dogs

- e.g chemotherapy experience can cause anticipatory nausea + vomiting (immune system conditioning)

Question 4

Under what conditions is classical conditioning stongest?

Answer 4

• if There are repeated CS-UCS pairings
• if The UCS is more intense
• if The sequence involves forward pairing (i.e. CS -> UCS)
• if The time interval between the CS and UCS is short

Question 5

give the definition of stimulus generalization

Answer 5

tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar, but not identical , to a conditioned stimulus.

Question 6

give the definition of stimulus discrimination

Answer 6

The ability to respond differently to various stimuli

e.g diff response to diff dog breeds

Question 7

What is the difference between primary and secondary reinforcers ?

Answer 7

Primary Reinforcers: those needed for survival e.g. food, water, sleep, sex

Secondary Reinforcers: stimuli that acquires reinforcing properties through their association with primary reinforcers e.g. money, praise

Question 8

what is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Answer 8

Negative Reinforcement: occurs when a response is strengthened by the removal (or avoidance) of an aversive stimulus

Positive Reinforcement: occurs when a response is strengthened by the subsequent presentation of a reinforcer

Question 9

What is positive punishment?

Answer 9

when a response is weakened by the presentation of a stimulus (e.g. squirting a cat with water when it jumps on dining table)

Question 10

What is negative punishment?

Answer 10

when a response is weakened by the removal of a stimulus (e.g. phone confiscated)

Question 11

What did reinforcement schedule experiment show?

Answer 11

showed that continuous reinforcement produced more rapid learning than partial reinforcement

e. g
- gambling
- pellet comes out every time rat presses button > pellet comes out sometimes when rat presses button

Question 12

describe link between operant conditioning and health behavior?

e.g in chronic pain

Answer 12

e.g in chronic pain

• chronic pain behavior e.g limping
• can be reinforced by family when they act overly sympathetic, encouraging rest
• patient receives positive consequence for being in pain
  so pain = more likely to occur frequently

Question 13

what is vicarious LEARNING?

Answer 13

We observe the behaviours of others and the consequences of those behaviours.

Question 14

what is vicarious REINFORCEMENT?

Answer 14

If their behaviours are reinforced we tend to imitate the behaviours

Question 15

Describe the Bobo doll experiment (Bandura)

Answer 15

• children in 2 groups
• group 1 = non aggressive adult in play room
• group 2 = aggressive adult in play room
• group 1 children = more likely to imitate aggressive behavior towards bobo doll

Question 16

We are more likely to imitate the behavior if we encounter someone:

Answer 16

• Seen to be rewarded
• High status (e.g. Medical consultant)
• Similar to us (e.g. colleagues)
• Friendly (e.g. peers)

Question 17

Key concepts
Classical conditioning (definition & terminology) Operant conditioning (definition & terminology) Observational (social) learning
Types of reinforcement & schedules of reinforcement.

Answer 17

Key studies:
Pavlov’s Dogs
Watson & Raynor (1920) Little Albert Experiment Bandura (1961) Bobo Doll Experiment

Question 18

describe the experiment on pavlov’s dogs

Answer 18

CS = tone 
UCS = food 
UCR = salivation 
CR  = salivation 

he conditioned the behavior of dogs by pairing certain stimuli.
which produces a conditioned response

dog learns to associate sound of bell with food –> increase in salivation
(through associated learning)

extinction of learning = attenuation

Question 19

describe the Little albert experiment

watson + raynor

Answer 19

• white rats shown to boy
• neutral stimulus
• paired white rat with loud noise (US)
• UR: crying
• after conditioning, when rat was seen (CS),
  CR = crying crawling away
• caused strong fear against rats

Question 20

describe 2 factor theory of maintenance of classically conditioned associations

Answer 20

1) fear response induced on needle

2) then they tend to avoid injections, so tendency to avoid = REINFORCED

Question 21

define habituation

Answer 21

decrease in the strength of a response to a repeated stimulus.

Question 22

Define sensitization

Answer 22

increase in the strength of response to a repeated stimulus.
(e.g a bleep)

Question 23

Whats the difference between unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus?

Answer 23

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (the UCR) without prior learning

Conditioned stimulus (CS):
A stimulus that, through association with a UCS, comes to elicit a conditioned response similar to the original UCR

Question 24

Whats the difference between unconditioned response and conditioned response?

Answer 24

Unconditioned response (UCR): A reflexive or innate response that is elicited by a stimulus (the UCS) without prior learning

Conditioned response (CR): 
A response elicited by a conditioned stimulus.

Question 25

what is a potential method for overcoming conditioned stimulus?

Answer 25

• overshadowing

Question 26

Describe the concept behind Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 26

Law of Effect:
A response followed by a satisfying consequence will be more likely to
occur.

A response followed by an aversive consequence will become less likely to occur

Question 27

note: positive reinforcement is more potent than punishment

Answer 27

positive reinforcement = you teach new behavior

punishment = working with / removing existing behavior

Question 28

What is the main concept behind Bandura’s bobo doll experiment?

What kind of learning does it show?

Answer 28

• modelling / observational learning

- occurs by watching/imitating another person’s actions –> that have

Question 29

What are the 4 different types of reinforce meant schedules?

Answer 29

Fixed interval schedule:

Variable interval schedule:

Fixed Ratio Schedule:

Variable Ratio Schedule:

Question 30

Whats the difference between Fixed Ratio Schedule + Variable Ratio Schedule

Answer 30

Fixed Ratio Schedule: reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses

Variable Ratio Schedule: reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centered around an average

Question 31

Whats the difference between Fixed interval Schedule + Variable interval Schedule

Answer 31

Fixed interval schedule: reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval

Variable interval schedule: the time interval varies at random around an average