3: Learning Theory

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 two processes named under non-associative learning?

Answer 2

1. Habituation
2. Sensitisation

Question 3

What is Habituation?

Answer 3

A form of non-associative learning

• Habituation is a decrease in the strength of a response to a repeated stimulus (e.g. getting used to a busy road at night when moving)

Question 4

What is sensitisation?

Answer 4

A form of non-assoicative learning

Sensitisation is an increase in the strength of response to a repeated stimulus

e.g. listening more careful to nose once it has a meaning to you

Question 5

What is an unconditiones stimulus in classical conditioning?

Answer 5

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

–> e.g. food causing salivation

Question 6

What is a conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning?

Answer 6

A stimulus that, through association with a UCS, comes to elicit a conditioned response similar to the original UCR

e.g. bell in pavlovs dog

Question 7

What is an Unconditioned Response in classical conditioning? (UCR)

Answer 7

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

e.g. salivation caused by food

Question 8

What is the conditioned response in classical conditoning?

Answer 8

A response elicited by a conditioned stimulus.

e.g. Salivation in response to bell

Question 9

What are the factors that increase the strength of classical conditioning?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Explain the time-course of extinction in classical conditioning

Answer 10

Quite easily forgotten when unpaiting of CS and CR/UCR

Question 11

What is stimulus generalization?

Answer 11

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

–> e.g. all snakes are dangerous

Question 12

What is stimulus discrimination in classical conditioning?

Answer 12

The ability to respond differently to various stimuli.

– E.g. A child will respond differently to various bells (alarms, school, timer)

– A fear of dogs might only include certain breeds

Question 13

How can classical conditioning can be exploted in a health situation?

Answer 13

E.g. chemotherapy and nausea

• Hospital can be percieved as CS to induce Nausea
• Can be undone by using overshadowing –>
  
  • ​unpleasant drink is given with chemo the first times
  • drink will become CS, not the hospital
  • drink won’t be administered later
  • patient feeling less sick

Question 14

Explain the Two-factor theory of maintenance of classically conditioned associations e.g. fear

Answer 14

1. Trauma (UCS) and Needle (CS) leading to FEar
2. Avoid injections –> fear reduced –> avoidance is increased

Question 15

What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect:?

Answer 15

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 16

What is positive reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 16

1) occurs when a response is strengthened by the subsequent presentation of a reinforcer (does not say anything if it is good or bad)
* if you do it you will get something

Question 17

What is negative reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 17

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

• if you do that, you don’t have to do this

Question 18

What are primary and secondary reinforcers in operant conditioning?

Answer 18

Primary reinforcers= needed for survival e.g. food, water, sleep, sex

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

Question 19

What is positive punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 19

occurs 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 20

What is negative punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

When comparing punishment and reinforcement: what is more successful?

Answer 21

Reinforcement is much more sucessful in getting desired behaviour than punishment

• punishment makes undisired less likely
• reinforcement can teach new behaviours

Question 22

How do continous and partial reinforcement differn in

• the speed of learned behaviour
• the retaining of learned behaviour

Answer 22

1. Continous reinforcement
   
   1. new behaviour is quickly learned
   2. but also faster forgotten
2. Partial reinforcement
   
   1. new behaviour takes longer to learn
   2. but also takes longer to forget

Question 23

Explain fixed and variable time and fixed and variable ratio scedule in operant conditioning

Answer 23

• Fixed interval schedule: reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval
• Variable interval schedule: the time interval varies at random around an average
• 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 24

How does operant conditioning play a part in health behaviour?

Answer 24

MAny influences but e.g. in chronic pain

• when patients shows pain and links it to medication request
• the sympathy from others (i.e. positive reinforcement) leads to a higher use of painkillers and e.g. more rest etc.

Question 25

What are the key hypothesis of Banduras social learning theory?

Answer 25

1. Observational (vicarious) learning - We observe the behaviours of others and the consequences of those behaviours.
2.  Vicarious reinforcement - If their behaviours are reinforced we tend to imitate the behaviours

Question 26

What are the things required for a sucessful modeling in Bandurals social learning theory?

Answer 26

• Pay attention to model
• Remember what was done
• Must be able to reproduce modeled behavior
• If successful or behavior is rewarded, behavior more likely to recur

Question 27

When do we copy behaviour of someone (according to Banduras social learning theory?

Answer 27

We don’t imitate the behaviour of everyonewe encounter

• More likely if model is:

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