Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness - Week 8 Flashcards
1
Q
Avoidance Learning
A
- Learning via negative reinforcement
- Adapting by avoiding negative stimuli
- Maladapting by avoiding social situations
2
Q
Shuttle-Box Studies
A
- Wynne
- Dogs shocked if stand on floor for too long
- Dogs learn to jump
- Learnt through 2-factor theory
3
Q
2-Factor Theory
A
- Both classical and operant conditioning used
- Avoiding the shock through fear (Operant)
- Light out creates fear (Classical)
4
Q
Calculating Behavioural Suppression
A
A/(A+B)
10/(10+10)
10/(20)
SR =0.5
5
Q
Problems with 2-Factor Theory
A
- Dog will continue to jump, eventually eliminating the fear of the shock over time
- Dog will just jump, because that’s what its supposed to do
-This eliminates the classical conditioning
6
Q
Sidman Avoidance Theory
A
-Rats postpone shock by pressing bar repeatedly
- Had problems: Rats feared the time since they last pressed the bar, including classicla conditioning
- Making it 2-factory theory
7
Q
What is the best 1-factor theory?
A
-Herrnstein & Hineline experiment
8
Q
1-Factor vs 2-Factor
A
- 2-Factor: Artificial because some animals aren’t usually given a warning in the wild
- Both factors have reason to be appropriate based on the context
9
Q
Learned Helplessness
A
- No longer have the desire to escape, even if escape is possible
- Some dogs laid down on the floor and accepted the shock
10
Q
Problems with Learnt Helplessness experiment
A
- Exposure to lack of control
- LH occurred to the lack of contingency
11
Q
Why LH occurs?
A
- Motivational deficit: Losing motivation to respond
- Cognitive deficit: No response changes anything
12
Q
Human LH
A
- Unlikely to accept defeat
- However tend to respond in less-accurate and slower ways
13
Q
LH Theory of of Depression
A
- People that believe that nothing makes difference, they become depressed
- Exposure to repeated unsuccess leads to reduction of control and success expectation
14
Q
Problems with LH
A
- Perception of non-contingency affects performance
- Less control will mean people will be punished more
- Sequential Effects: Last trials bias
- Individual Differences: LH does not occur in everyone
- Generalization: When past tasks are similar
14
Q
Failure vs Non-contingency
A
- Fail: Punishment
- Non-contingency: Loss of control
