ch 7- learning Flashcards
learning
a lasting change caused by experience
associative learning
involves forming associations between stimuli.
–> classical conditioning
–> operant conditionin
non-associative learning
does not involve forming associations between stimuli.
2 major types of non-associative learning
- habituation (simplest type of learning)
- sensitization
habituation
A form of non-associative learning
Repeated presentation of a stimulus leads to a reduction in response
dishabituation
A form of non-associative learning
Recovery of attention to a NOVEL STIMULUS following habituation (e.g. new sound)
sensitization
a form of non-associative learning
A strong stimulus results in an exaggerated response to the subsequent presentation of weaker stimuli
conditioning
the association of events in the environment
classical conditioning
a form of associative learning between two previously unrelated stimuli that results in a learned response
natural reflex
automatic involuntary response that typically occurs without learning
unconditioned stimulus (US)
a stimulus that on its own elicits a response.
unconditioned response (UR)
a physical response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus; it does not need to be learned.
conditioned stimulus (CS)
a neutral stimulus that eventually elicits the same response as an unconditioned stimulus with which it has been paired
conditioned response (CR)
a physical response elicited by a conditioned stimulus; it is acquired through experience and is usually the same as the unconditioned response.
US produces
UR
CS + US produces
UR
CS produces
CR
Example of a human being classically conditioned
When your roommate is in a really good mood (US), you are happy (UR).
You don’t dislike this song, but you have no real attachment to it.
Your roommate repeatedly plays this song (CS) when he is in a really good mood (US).
Eventually the song alone causes you to feel happy (CR). You have been classically conditioned
stimulus generalization
occurs when stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus trigger the same conditioned response
ex. bell noise is slightly different. adapted for survival; rustling of bushes won’t sound the same each time
stimulus discrimination
occurs when an organism learns to emit a specific behaviour in the presence of a conditioned stimulus, but not in the presence of stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus
ex. hearing the specific tone of someone’s voice
higher order conditioning
occurs when a previously conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus for further conditioning
ex. bell+doorhandle+food
can take away bell and now the doorhandle will be the stimulus
extinction
reduction of a conditioned response after repeated presentations of the conditioned stimulus alone
ex. bell rings but no food= dog loses interest
spontaneous recovery
re-emergence of a conditioned response sometime after extinction has occurred
ex. bell + food= CR occurs bc of previous learning
phobia
a persistent, irrational, or obsessive fear of a specific object or situation that may arise as a result of fear conditioning
systematic desensitization
a process used to condition extinction of phobias through gradual exposure to the feared object or situation
conditioned taste aversion
a form of classical conditioning whereby a previously neutral stimulus (often an odour or taste) elicits an aversive reaction after it’s paired with illness (nausea)
operant or instrumental conditioning
a form of associative learning whereby behaviour is modified depending on its consequences.
law of effect
behaviours leading to rewards are more likely to occur again, while behaviours producing unpleasantness are less likely to occur again
behaviourism
the systematic study and manipulation of observable behaviour
reinforcer
an experience that produces an increase in a certain behaviour
positive reinforcement
presentation of a pleasant consequence following a behaviour to increase the probability that the behaviour will reoccur
negative reinforcement
removal of an unpleasant stimulus after a response to increase the probability that the behaviour will reoccur.
negative punishment
removal of a pleasant stimulus as a consequence of a behaviour to decrease the probability of the behaviour being repeated
punishment
an experience that produces a decrease in a particular behaviour
positive punishment
presentation of an unpleasant consequence following a specific behaviour to decrease the probability of the behaviour being repeated
primary reinforcer
a stimulus that has survival value and is therefore intrinsically rewarding
secondary reinforcer
a neutral stimulus that becomes rewarding when associated with a primary reinforcer
primary punisher
a stimulus that is naturally aversive to an organism
secondary punisher
a stimulus that becomes aversive when associated with a primary punisher
continuous reinforcement
what occurs when behaviour is reinforced every time it occurs
intermittent or partial reinforcement
a schedule of reinforcement where the behaviour is followed by reinforcement only some of the time
fixed ratio schedule
a schedule of reinforcement that occurs after a specific number of responses
variable ratio schedule
a schedule of reinforcement that occurs when the number of responses required for reinforcement is unpredictable.
fixed interval schedule
a schedule of reinforcement that occurs every time a specific time period has elapsed
variable interval schedule
a schedule of reinforcement that occurs after varying amounts of time
shaping
introducing new behaviour by reinforcing close approximations of the desired behaviour
behaviour modification
a systematic approach to change behaviour using principles of operant conditioning
learned helplessness
a situation in which repeated exposure to inescapable punishment eventually produces a failure to make escape attempts
observational learning or social learning
learning that occurs without overt training in response to watching the behaviour of others, called models
modelling
when an observer learns from the behaviour of another
vicarious learning
learning that occurs when an individual observes the consequences to another’s actions and then chooses to duplicate the behaviour or refrain from doing so
mirror neurons
neurons fired when an animal or human performs an action or when they see another animal perform the same action
implicit learning
the acquisition of information without awareness.
spatial navigation
learning that involves forming associations among stimuli relevant to navigating in space
latent learning
a form of learning that is not expressed until there is a reward or incentive
insight learning
a sudden realization of a solution to a problem or leap in understanding new concepts
operant conditioning
changing behaviour choices in response to consequences
ex. smiling at someone produces a friendly greeting
classical conditioning
2 stimuli become associated with eachother.
A neutral stimulus forms a REFLEXIVE response that is naturally evoked by stimulus
CR and UR are
the same response (but caused by diff things)
