Chapter 11 : Theories of learning Flashcards
Define conditioning.
Conditioning is the process of learning associations between an environmental stimulus and a behavioral response.
Give an example of conditioning observed in everyday life.
Associating a smile with friendly behavior.
Name the two main types of conditioning.
Classical and operant conditioning.
Name the three main types of learning.
Conditioning (classical & operant), trial and error learning, and observational learning.
Define classical conditioning.
Classical conditioning, also called respondent conditioning, refers to a type of learning that occurs through repeated association of two or more different stimuli. Learning is only said to have occurred when a particular stimulus consistently produces a response that it did not previously produce.
Who was the physiologist that first described classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov.
Define a stimulus.
A stimulus is any object or event that produces a response in an organism.
Define a response.
A response is a reaction by an organism produced by a stimulus.
True or False.
In Pavlov’s experiment, the response of salivating due to the food is a type of learning.
False. Salivation is an involuntary reflex response that is controlled by the autonomic division of the PNS.
Briefly describe classical conditioning in Pavlov’s experiment.
In Pavlov’s experiment, the dogs initially salivated due to the presence of food. But through repeated association of the food with the sound of a ringing bell, the dogs later started to salivate at the sound of the bell.
Name the four key elements of classical conditioning.
Unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus and conditioned response.
Define the unconditioned stimulus (UCS).
The UCS refers to any stimulus that consistently produces a naturally occurring, automatic response.
Define the unconditioned response (UCR).
The UCR refers to the response that occurs automatically after the presence of the UCS. It is a reflexive involuntary response that is predictably caused by the UCS.
Define the conditioned stimulus (CS).
The CS refers to the stimulus that is neutral at the start of the conditioning, but through repeated association with the UCS, it produces a response that is similar to the one caused by the UCS.
Define the conditioned response (CR).
The CR is the learned response that is produced by the CS, and occurs after the CS has been repeatedly associated with the UCS.
Name examples of the four elements of classical conditioning in Pavlov’s experiment.
NS/CS - The ringing sound of the bell
UCS - The food
UCR - Salivation due to the presence of food
CR- Salivation due to the presence of the bell
True or False.
The CR is very similar to the UCR, but it is only triggered by the presence of the CS alone.
True.
Define association.
Association is the process of pairing or linking of one stimulus with another, that is a stimulus that does not produce an automatic response with a stimulus that does produce an automatic response.
Define neutral stimulus.
The neutral stimulus is any stimulus that does not normally produce a predictable response.
True or False.
NS = CS
True.
Name the five key processes in classical conditioning.
Acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, stimulus generalization and stimulus discrimination.
Define acquisition.
Acquisition is the overall process during which an organism learns to associate the CS with the UCS.
How to ensure that acquisition is rapid and effective?
- The presentation of the CS and the UCS should occur close together in time.
- … in the same sequence.
- The CS should remain present until the UCS is presented.
When is it considered to be the end of the acquisition stage?
When the CS alone produces the CR.
True or False.
The rate of learning at the early stages of acquisition is often very fast.
True.
True or False.
A conditioned stimulus-response association is permanent.
False.
Define extinction.
Extinction is the gradual decrease in the strength or rate of a CR when the UCS is no longer presented.
When is extinction said to have occurred?
Extinction is said to have occurred when the CR no longer occurs following presentation of the CS.
True or False.
The extinction of a conditioned response is not always permanent.
True.
Define spontaneous recovery.
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of the CR when the CS is presented following a rest period (when no CS is presented) after the CR appears to have been extinguished.
What are the characteristics of spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?
- Does not always occur, and when it does, it is often short lived.
- The CR is weaker than it was originally in the acquisition stage.
Define stimulus generalization.
Stimulus generalization is the tendency for another stimulus that is similar to the original CS to produce a response that is similar, but not necessarily identical to the CR.
True or False.
In stimulus generalization, the greater the similarity between stimuli, the greater the possibility that generalization will occur.
True.
Provide an example of stimulus generalization.
In Pavlov’s experiment, the dogs could also salivate at the sound of a front doorbell, which is similar to the original ringing sound of the bell.
True or False.
Stimulus generalization usually triggers the CR at a reduced level.
True.
Define stimulus discrimination.
Stimulus discrimination occurs when a person or animal responds to the CS only, and not to any other stimulus that is similar to the CS.
Provide an example of stimulus discrimination.
An individual who has a fear of a particular breed of dog does not flinch at the sight of other breed of dogs.
Why are conditioned responses considered reflexive?
Because they are automatic, involuntary and usually occur without much conscious thought or awareness.
Identify the four elements of classical conditioning.
Mary went to the dentist to get her tooth drilled. She was afraid of getting her tooth drilled and cringed at the thought of it. Now, she cringes at the sound of a dentist drill.
UCS - The drilling of the tooth
UCR - Cringing due to fear of tooth being drilled
CS - The sound of the dentist drill
CR - Cringing due to fear of the sound of the dentist drill
Define a conditioned emotional response.
An emotional reaction that usually occurs when the autonomic nervous system produces a response to a stimulus that did not previously trigger that response.
Who conducted the “Little Albert” experiment?
John B Watson.
Describe the process of classical conditioning in the “Little Albert” experiment.
Little Albert was conditioned to associate a white rat (CS) with loud noises (UCS), which produced a fear response due to the white rat (CR).
What ethical conducts were breached in the “Little Albert” experiment?
Informed consent, withdrawal right, deception.
Name the three types of therapeutic techniques to extinguish a conditioned emotional response.
Graduated exposure, flooding and aversion therapy.
Provide an example for the process of graduated exposure.
For an individual with a phobia of dogs, then can first start out with looking at pictures of dogs, then watching a video of a dog in motion, then being in the same room as the dog, and then lastly petting the dog.
Define graduated exposure.
Graduated exposure involves presenting successive approximations of the CS, until the CS itself does not produce the conditioned response.
It essentially involves progressively exposing the client to increasingly similar stimuli that produced the conditioned response requiring extinction, and ultimately to the CS itself.
Define flooding.
Flooding involves bringing the client into direct contact with the fear or anxiety producing stimulus, and keeping them in contact until the conditioned response has been extinguished.
Define aversion therapy.
Aversion therapy is a form of behavior therapy that applies classical conditioning processes to discourage an undesirable behavior by associating it with an unpleasant stimulus, such as a feeling of disgust, pain or nausea.
