Building blocks of behaviour - learning

Question 1

definition of learning

Answer 1

A relatively durable change in behaviour or knowledge that is due to experience

Question 2

classical conditioning

Answer 2

an initially neutral stimulus is associated with an unconditioned stimulus
before the unconditioned stimulus leads to an involuntary automatic response
a neutral stimulus turns to conditioned stimulus
in conjunction with unconditioned stimulus which initially has no response but leads to an unconditioned, involuntary response

Question 3

examples of classical conditioning

Answer 3

1. neutral stimulus that turns to conditioned stimulus = sound of lead
   unconditioned stimulus = going for a walk
   unconditioned response = excitement
2. neutral stimulus turns conditioned stimulus = sound of drill
   unconditioned stimulus to unconditioned response - discomfort from drill
   unconditioned response = fear/cringe

Question 4

advertising is an example of classical or operant conditioning,

Answer 4

classical conditioning

Question 5

give a health related example of classical conditioning

Answer 5

Conditioned stimulus - leads to no response = nurse
unconditioned stimulus = chemotherapy
unconditioned response = nausea and vomitting
conditioned stimulus leads to conditioned response = nurse
conditioned response = nausea vomitting

Question 6

operant conditioning

Answer 6

learning which voluntary responses/behaviours controlled by their consequences
behaviours -> consequences -> effect on behaviour

Question 7

example of operant conditioning

Answer 7

behaviour = tell a joke
consequence = rewarding stimulus - friends laugh
effect on behaviour = tendency to tell jokes

Question 8

doing chores to receive rewards e.g. money is an example of classical or operant conditioning

Answer 8

positive reinforcement operant conditioning

positive reinforcement = add something positive

Question 9

studying to remove the feelings of guilt is the example of classical or operant conditioning

Answer 9

negative reinforcement of operant conditioning

negative reinforcement = remove something aversive

Question 10

medical applications of operant conditioning

Answer 10

improve physical functioning following surgery
increase adherence thru positive reinforcement
applied behaviour analysis for autism

Question 11

limitation of behaviourist learning theory

Answer 11

1. Teacher-centred model
2. Reductionist: Ignore what goes on inside the individual
3. Focus on extrinsic rewards and incentives
4. A lot of the evidence is based on animal models
5. People’s changed behaviour can deteriorate over
   time

Question 12

observational learning

Answer 12

Response is influenced by the

observation of others (called models)

Question 13

application of observational learning

Answer 13

modelling patient behaviour

health care professionals as role models

Question 14

therapies derived from learning theory

Answer 14

flooding

systematic desensitisation

Question 15

flooding behaviour theory

Answer 15

sustained exposure to feared stimulus

fear eventually subsides

Question 16

systematic desensitsation

Answer 16

gradual exposure to the stimulus that elicits fear
start from least fear provoking stimulus e.g. thinking about spider to most fear provoking e.g. let spider crawl on your bare arm