approaches to understanding learning

Question 1

classical conditioning stages

Answer 1

the neutral stimulus
the conditioned stimulus
the unconditioned stimulus
the unconditioned response
the conditioned response

Question 2

the neural stimulus (NS)

Answer 2

the name given to the conditioned stimulus before it becomes conditioned; it produces no relevant response. In Pavlov’s experiment

Question 3

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 3

the stimulus which is neutral at the start of conditioning. It wouldn’t normally produce the Unconditioned response (UCR), but does so eventually because of its association with the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Question 4

unconditioned stimulus

Answer 4

Any stimulus that consistently produces a particular involuntary/reflexive response.

Question 5

unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 5

A response which occurs automatically when the Unconditioned Stimulus is presented.

Question 6

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 6

the behaviours which is identical to the UCR but is caused by the CS after conditioning.

Question 7

extinction

Answer 7

When the UCS is no longer presented along with the CS
Eventually the CS becomes weaker and weaker
CR stops

Question 8

spontaneous recovery

Answer 8

Extinction has occurred
A rest period takes place
When CS is reintroduced the CR again appears
CR is weaker than when first conditioned

Question 9

stimulus generalisation

Answer 9

The organism will respond by producing a CR to stimuli that are similar to the CS
eg- A child who was bitten by a dog now fears all dogs not just pit bull terriers

Question 10

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 10

The organism only responds to the CS and no other similar stimuli
eg- Your dog gets excited when you put your Nike runners on, not any other white shoes

Question 11

operant conditioning

Answer 11

A learning process by which the likelihood of a particular behaviour occurring is determined by the consequences of that behavior.

Question 12

ABC of operant conditioning

Answer 12

Antecedent – the conditions that increase the likelihood of a response occurring (also called the discriminative stimulus)

Behaviour – the response executed by the learner

Consequence – the reinforcement or punishment delivered

Question 13

reinforcement

Answer 13

Any stimulus (event or action) that subsequently strengthens or increases the likelihood of the response (behaviour) that it follows.

Question 14

positive reinforcement

Answer 14

stimulus which strengthens a response by providing a pleasant or satisfying consequence

Question 15

negative reinforcement

Answer 15

stimulus that strengthens a response by the reduction, removal or prevention of an unpleasant stimulus

Question 16

positive punishment

Answer 16

the delivery of an unpleasant stimulus following an undesirable response

Question 17

negative punishment

Answer 17

the removal of a pleasant stimulus following an undesired response

Question 18

factors affecting reinforcement

Answer 18

order of presentation
timing
appropriateness of the reinforcer

Question 19

order of presentation

Answer 19

reinforcement needs to occur after the desired response not before! So the organism associates the reinforcement with the behavior.

Question 20

timing

Answer 20

Reinforcers need to occur as close in time to the desired response as possible. Most effective reinforcement occurs immediately after the desired response.

Question 21

appropriateness of the reinforcer

Answer 21

For a stimulus to be a reinforce, it must provide a pleasing or satisfying consequence for its recipient.

Question 22

observational learning

Answer 22

Observational learning occurs when someone uses observation of another person’s actions and their consequences to guide their future actions.

Question 23

vicarious reinforcement

Answer 23

viewing a model being reinforced can strengthen behaviour in an observer

Question 24

vicarious punishment

Answer 24

viewing a model being punished can weaken a behaviour in an observer

Question 25

Elements of Observational Learning

Answer 25

• Pay attention in order to observe the modeled behaviour
• Mentally retain what has been observed
• Be capable of Reproducing the behaviour
• Be motivated or have some reinforcement available