Ch 5: Learning Flashcards
What is Learning?
A relatively permanent change in behavior, capabilities, or knowledge due to experience or practice.
What is Classical Conditioning (also known as respondent conditioning)?
Learning through association, where a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to produce a conditioned response (CR).
True or false: classical conditioning is a basic form of learning that enables organisms to associate or anticipate specific responses to events.
True
It’s based on continuous pairing of some other (neutral) event with a stimulus that evokes the resulting conditioned behaviour.
What are the key components of classical conditioning?
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Naturally causes a response (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UCR): Natural reaction (e.g., salivation).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously neutral, now triggers a response (e.g., bell).
Conditioned Response (CR): Learned reaction (e.g., salivating at the bell).
Give me an example of classical conditioning.
Pavlov’s dogs
UCS (unlearned stimulus) = meat powder
UCR (unlearned response) = salivation
NS (orienting reflex) = bell + food
CS (learned response) = bell & food
CR (learned response) = salivation after hearing bell b/c its now associated w/ the food
What is the Little Albert experiment?
It’s an experiment that found fear can be classically conditioned.
Who created the Little Albert experiment?
John B. Watson & Rosalie Rayner
What happened during the Little Albert experiment?
Albert enjoyed playing with a white rat (neutral stimulus).
Researchers paired the rat with a loud clanging noise (UCS).
Albert developed fear of the rat (CS → CR).
Fear generalized to similar objects (e.g., rabbits, fur coats).
What is the ethical concern surrounding the Little Albert experiment?
Albert was never counter conditioned
What is counterconditioning?
Pairing a feared stimulus with positive experiences to eliminate fear.
Ex: Peter received cookies while a feared rabbit was gradually brought closer.
What is systematic desensitization?
a step-by-step method where fear-evoking stimuli are introduced while maintaining relaxation.
Used in therapy for phobias.
What is extinction?
When a conditioned stimulus (CS) no longer predicts the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), the learned response fades.
Ex: Pavlov stopped giving food after the bell; dogs stopped salivating.
What is Spontaneous Recovery?
An extinguished response can reappear after time.
Ex: Child moves to a new house, stops reacting to car sounds, but suddenly reacts again months later.
Difference b/w generalization & discrimination.
Generalization
Responding to similar stimuli.
Ex: Pavlov’s dogs salivated at sounds similar to a bell.
Discrimination: Learning to respond only to the specific conditioned stimulus.
Ex: Dog salivates to a bell but not a horn.
What is higher-order conditioning? Provide examples.
When a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with a conditioned stimulus.
Ex: A child burns their hand on a stove → fears stoves. Later, just hearing the word “stove” triggers fear.
Ex: Pavlov paired a light with a tone (already conditioned), and eventually, the light alone triggered salivation.
What is taste aversion? Why is it adaptive?
occurs when an animal acquires an aversion to the taste of a food that was paired with aversive stimuli.
They are adaptive because they motivate organisms to avoid harmful foods.
True or false: taste aversion only requires a single exposure
True
How is classical conditioning incorporated into advertising?
Advertisers pair positive stimuli (celebrities, happy scenes) with their products to create emotional associations.
Ex: A perfume brand featuring a glamorous actress.
- Why It Works: We associate the product with the celebrity’s positive image.
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through consequences (reinforcement & punishment).
Difference b/w Classical Conditioning & Operant Conditioning?
Classical = involuntary responses (e.g., salivating to a bell).
Operant = voluntary behaviors (e.g., studying for good grades).
What are the 2 types of reinforcements?
Positive Reinforcement: Adding something pleasant to increase behavior.
Ex: Giving a child a treat for cleaning their room.
Negative Reinforcement: Removing something unpleasant to increase behavior.
Ex: Taking painkillers to relieve a headache.
Immediate vs. Delayed Reinforcement. What is more effective?
Immediate reinforcement is more effective.
Ex: Socializing instead of studying feels rewarding now; grades come later.
Difference b/w primary vs secondary reinforcers?
Primary Reinforcer: Naturally satisfying (e.g., food, water).
Secondary Reinforcer: Gains value through association (e.g., money, grades).
Ex: A child works hard in school to earn an A, which leads to parental approval.
What are the 2 types of punishments?
Positive Punishment: Adding something unpleasant.
Ex: A fine for speeding or spanking
Negative Punishment: Taking away something pleasant.
Ex: Grounding a child for bad behavior.
