Chapter 1 Flashcards
general definition of learning
biological process that facilitates adaptions to one’s environment
basic physiological functions (breathing) are accomplished without much _________ interaction
environment
adaptive functions (ex. finding food, dating, etc.) require behavior adjustments over ____
time
learning can be … (2 things)
acquisition of new behaviors (ex. driving)
change in frequency of previous behaviors (ex. going from exercising once in a while to 3 times a week)
- can be an increase or decrease in frequency
learning is rooted in __________
philosophy
before Descartes, human behavior was considered ____ ____
free will
Descartes observed many behaviors seemed to be ________
involuntary
Descartes then termed the word “_______”, which is a combination of involuntary and voluntary human behaviors
dualism
Involuntary behaviors that consist of automatic reactions to external stimuli are called
reflexes
sensory input is “_______” in response in the Descartes’ reflex arc
reflected
Descartes suggested most behaviors are ______ reflexes
mental
involuntary human and all animal behaviors are considered _________ while voluntary human behaviors are considered _______
reflexes; free will
what step is taken out of the Descartes’ reflex arc for animals?
the mind
what was an important addition in the Descartes’ reflex arc?
the brain
2 important empiricists
John Locke and Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
took umbrage with free will
believed all ideas were acquired through experience after birth (Tabula Rasa - clean slate)
All human behavior is involuntary over time and no divinity present
Thomas Hobbes
accepted voluntary vs. involuntary but believed that the mind operated predictably
Hedonism: pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain, purpose was to predict behavior
empiricists believed all ideas originate from ____ _______
sense experience (both simple and complex)
complex ideas form as simple sensations combine by _________
associations
Rules of Associations, proposed by Aristotle, consist of what 3 terms? Which has received the most attention/support?
contiguity - received most attention/support
similarity
contrast
Contiguity and example
if 2 events/things repeatedly occur together in time or space, they will become associated
ex. thunder and lightning
similarity and example
2 events/things will become associated if they are similar in some respect
ex. hotdogs and hamburgers
contrast and example
2 events/things will become associate if they are different in some characteristic
ex. cats and dogs, salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard
What three parts of Descartes’ reflex arc were dispelled after future research?
Sensory and motor nerves are not the same
Pineal gland is not central to learning
Even reflexes are modifiable
While you are out on a jog, a dog appears in your neighbor’s yard and begins barking furiously at you. You speed up to avoid it. Now whenever you go past your neighbor’s yard you speed up, dog or no dog. This change in behavior is evidence of which rule of association?
similarity
contiguity
contrast
contingency
contiguity
2 important Russian physiologists
I.M. Sechenov
Ivan Pavlov
I.M. Sechenov
Complex behaviors can be formed by subconscious stimuli
“Small speck of dust can produce a vigorous sneeze” = little things turn into large responses
Believed no behavior was truly voluntary
Ivan Pavlov
demonstrated not all reflexes are innate
Strong association can create new and lasting behavior
Charles Darwin
expanded upon human/nonhuman overlap
proposed evolution of physical and mental traits (why we learn some things quicker than others)
Intelligence
Romanes (1882)
ability “to make adjustments, or modify old ones, in accordance with the results of its own individual experience”
this is similar to the general definition of learning!
functional neurology
key behavioral functions are governed by nervous system
“All behavior is a reflection of brain function”
Dollard and Miller (1950)
“Hypothesis that people have all learning capacity of rats” … ex. taste aversion, maze learning
this assumption is probably true in most cases
Animal models should be relevant to human behavior, also know as face validity
Benefits of animal models
simplicity
control
cost effective
specific
- particular question is being addressed and know the animal is good at it (ex. Rats and lever pressing)
Dangers of animal models
overgeneralization
- everything we see in animals isn’t the same as humans
inappropriate
- wouldn’t use color-blind organism to study color
unwarranted
- ethical considerations
Formal definition of learning
an enduring change in mechanisms of behavior involving specific stimuli and/or responses that results from prior experience with those or similar stimuli and responses
Enduring change: some changes in behavior are too brief to be learning, such as:
fatigue
- exhaustion is not learning
change in stimulus conditions
- an abrupt change in conditions may alter behavior (ex. quiet in class but students are likely to talk if the lights go out suddenly)
altered motivational state
- menstrual cycle can temporarily change behavior, results can vary if organism is full vs. hungry
Mechanisms of behavior: learning is not a change in an organism’s actions at one time or a performance:
subject to alteration by opportunity and motivation
- ex. singing in shower vs. singing in front of a group
mechanisms of behavior can be determined only with control groups across time
- experimental side, correct designs of study being implemented
Results from prior experience in learning definition pertains to:
enduring changes may occur without prior experience
ex. changes due to maturation do not satisfy learning, such as growing out of the Rooting reflex (turning towards cheek that is being touched)
maturation and learning often co-occur
4 causal mechanisms of learning
efficient
material
formal
final
Efficient cause
training procedure with specific stimulus and responses that cause a behavioral change
Shown example in class with Jim’s altoid prank on Dwight
Material cause
physical changes in the brain that mediate learning (biology cause)
formal cause
theories of learning at the behavioral level
final cause
evolutionary mechanisms that contribute to the organism’s reproductive fitness
ex. why rats learn to not eat something after only eating it once
