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.