Chapter 5 - Learning Flashcards
Learning
Relatively enduring change in behavior or knowledge as a result of an experience
- information, skill, trick, etc.
Conditioning
Process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses
(voluntary or involuntary)
Classical Conditioning
explains how certain stimuli can trigger automatic responses
1. Unconditioned Stimulus
2. Unconditioned Response
3. Conditioned Stimulus
4. Conditioned Response
Pavlov
Russian Physicist that was the first to discover and study classical conditioning (used dogs and bells)
What did pavlov recognize in his experiment?
Stimulus under investigation did not produce a new behavior but caused an existing one to occur
Neutral Stimulus
does not produce a response the first time it is introduced
- no association is linked
Unconditioned Stimulus
Natural Stimulus that reflexively elicits a response without the need for prior learning (natural)
Unconditioned Response
Unlearned, reflexive response that is elicited by an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned Stimulus
Formerly neutral stimulus that acquires the capacity to elicit a reflexive response (learning has occurred)
Conditioned Response
Learned, reflexive response to a conditioned stimulus
Stimulus generalization
when you respond to similar things as the stimulus
- ex. sound similar
Stimulus discrimination
When you have a response to a specific kind of simulation
- maybe you ignore a different one
Higher order learning
when you develop a response when you never bring in a condition
- the ability to achieve learning, when learning already established
Timing
Vital, if you do not pair these things together quickly, the animal/person will not make the association
Extinction (in classical conditioning)
Gradual weakening and apparent disappearance of conditioned behavior (must pair it over and over again or it will be lost)
Spontaneous Recovery
Reappearance of a previously extinguished response after a period of time without exposure ti the conditioned stimulus (randomly start the behavior again after exposing)
Behavioralism
belief that all behavior is a result of conditioning and learning (not 100% correct, but mostly true)
Watson
sounded behavioralism
- advocated scientific study of objectively observed behavior
- conducted case on little Albert*
What is classical conditioning used for in real world?
advertising
Conditioned Emotional Reactions
elicit natural response
- involved in a serious car accident; can’t go back to that place
- such as a loud noise making a baby cry
Conditioned Fears
Phobias - for example
Operant Conditioning
deals with the learning of active, voluntary behaviors that are shaped and maintained by their consequences
- example is training dogs
Thorndike
First psychologist to systematically investigate animal learning and how voluntary behaviors are influenced by their consequences
- used trial and error
- discovered Law of effect
Law of effect
states that if a behavior results in a good consequence, it will be repeated and if it results in a bad result, it will not be repeated
Operant conditioning Puzzle Boxes
Cats had to escape from a puzzle box
- process was by trial and error
- observation led to law of effect
B.F. Skinner
believed psychology should limit itself to studying only phenomena that could be objectively measured and verified
- did not care about thoughts, emotions, etc. only what you can see
Skinner box
used boxes with rats to trial reinforcement
Positive reinforcement
followed by the addition of a reinforcing stimulus
- increasing the likelihood that the response will be repeated in similar situations
Negative reinforcement
response results in the removal of, avoidance of, or escape from a punishing stimulus, increasing the likelihood that the response will be repeated
Reinforcement
used to get the person/animal to repeat the behavior
- positive or negative
Primary reinforcer
stimulus or event that is naturally or inherently reinforcing for a given species, such as food, water, or other biological necessities
Secondary (conditioned) reinforcer
stimulus or event that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer
- conditioned to learn that something means something (like money, medals, etc.)
Punishment
process in which a behavior is followed by an aversive consequence that decreases the likelihood of behavior’s being repeated (unpleasant)
- behavior won’t be repeated/ it will decrease
Punishment by application
Positive punishment: a situation in which an operant is followed by presentation or addition of an aversive stimulus
Punishment by removal
Negative punishment: a situation in which an operant is followed by the removal or subtraction of a reinforcing stimulus
Discriminative Stimulus
specific stimulus in the presence of a particular operant is more likely to be reinforced
Shaping
Selectively reinforcing successfully closer approximations of goal behavior until goal behavior is displayed
- ex. Training dogs
Extinction
gradual weakening and disappearance of conditioned behavior: occurs when behavior was no longer followed by a reinforcer
Continuous Reinforcement
when a reinforcement is given every time a behavior happens
Partial reinforcement
when a reinforcement is only given some of the times
Fixed Ratio Schedule
set number (like getting a snack after reading 30 pages)
Fixed interval Schedule
time is set and fixed (like getting grades at end of semester)
Variable interval
not a set number (like checking messages on phone after being on silent)
Variable Ratio Schedule
number of responses (random)
- like a slot machine
4 things required for observational learning
- have to be paying attention
- retention (form and store a memory of what you observe)
- reproduction (transform memory into an action)
- motivation
Mirror neurons
reflect visual processing and mentally represent and interpret the actions of others
Strategies to improve self control and overcome temptations of short term reinforcers
- Precommitment
- Self reinforcement
- stimulus control
- focus on the delayed reinforcer
- observe good role models
