ch1 Flashcards
empiricism
origin of knowledge is experience
learning
a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience
nativism
we have innately given knowledge that doesn’t depends on experience
rationalism
knowledge is derive from reasoning, logical mind
basic research vs. applied research
basic: quest for knowledge for its own sake, fundamental processes. Applied: designed to solve specific problems.
functional approach
the necessity of learning and memory for survival and adaptation to changing environments
behavioral approach
the acquisition of specific behaviors and responses
cognitive approach
the learning of knowledge and expectancies: information is encoded and stored, like memory recall
neuroscience approach
the changing that learning produces in the brain
Behaviorism
psychology becoming a science, only observable behavior can be measured
learning rules out
reflexes, instincts, maturation, alterations of physiology
classical conditioning
associations shape our behavior; an association between something in the environment and a response to a particular stimuli
implicit vs explicit memory
Implicit - retention independent of conscious recollection
Explicit - memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare
declarative memory
conscious memory, includes episodic (personal stories) and semantic (general knowledge)
procedural memory
non conscious memory, like walking
includes cognitive (thinking, can improve skills unconsciously) and motor (doing, muscle memory)
Neuron
brain cell; functional unit of brain
dendrite is where information comes in, axon is where information goes out
orienting response
natural responses people have under surprising circumstances
Habituation
decreasing responsiveness over repeated presentations; only involves on stimulus
Goal: we need to pay attention to novelty
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
repeated habituations
Habituation occurs faster with successive habituation sessions.
spacing
closer spacing between stimuli= faster habituation
every 20 seconds would create more habituation than every 100 seconds
Dishabituation
after a new stimulus, the previous habituated one may revert back
enhancing physiological response
respond to an old stimulus as if it’s new again
generalization
if habituated to one stimulus, might generalize it to other similar stimuli
types of habituation measurements
eye fixations, startle reactions, heart rate changes, brain wave changes
unconditioned stimulus
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally—naturally and automatically—triggers a response.
unconditioned response (UR)
In classical conditioning, the unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.
conditioned stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response.
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, the learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
Extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS); occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer reinforced.
generalization (classical conditioning)
the tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response
Discimination (Classical Conditioning)
the ability to tell the difference between the CS and the stimuli similar to it that do not signal a UCS; in operant conditioning refers to responding differently to stimuli that signal that behavior will be reinforced or not reinforced; in social psychology it refers to unjustified behavior against an individual or group
contiguity
in order for conditioning to occur, the CS must occur close in time to the US
Forward Contiguity
CS then US, CS then US
unpaired control
random time course with CS and US
compound conditioned stimuli
Shock US paired with Noise CS paired with Light CS. Both CS’ create a response but to different degrees. The more salient things are, the more you will pick up on associations.
Overshadowing
one thing gets conditioned more than someone else
relative validity
the highest correlation with the US
Blocking
a previously condition relation may block conditioning of a second CS.
example/ US is shock CS is noise, UR is fear…. If noise was conditioned first, if a light was added, only the noise would be conditioned
stimulus-response theory
close association between the CS and CR
stimulus-stimulus theory
strengthening associations between S and CS (vs a direct connection, the stimuli associate first)
preparatory response theory
A theory of classical conditioning that proposes that the purpose of the CR is to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US.
ex/ fear helps prepare for shock)
systematic desensitization
A type of exposure therapy that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli. Commonly used to treat phobias.
conditioned taste aversion
development of a nausea or aversive response to a particular taste because that taste was followed by a nausea reaction, occurring after only one association
Typical US
taste, touch sound, emotion
excitatory conditioning
A CS becomes associated with the occurrence of US
inhibitory conditioning
a type of classical conditioning in which the CS becomes a signal for the absence of the US
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Thorndike and the Puzzle box experiment
- Cats had to escape from a “puzzle” box
- Process was by trial and error
Skinner Box
A small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is systematically recorded while the consequences of the response are controlled.
discriminative stimulus
a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
contrast effects operant conditioning
Large to small reward, worse performance
Small to Large reward, better performance
Shaping
an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
fixed-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
variable-ratio schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
fixed-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
variable-interval schedule
in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
secondary reinforcer
any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, tokens, or gold stars
drive-reduction theory
he idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
incentive motivation
reinforcers motivate us to get rewards
habit slip
automatic behavior takes over
behavior modification
the use of operant conditioning techniques to bring about desired changes in behavior
