Chapter 5: Learning Flashcards
Learning Definition
A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge, due to experience
Unconditioned stimulus
- always elicits a reflex action (an unconditioned response)
Unconditioned response
- a naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
- originally neutral, but becomes conditioned after it has been paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
- original unconditioned response becomes conditioned after it has been elicited by the neutral stimulus
CONTIGUITY;
CS and UCS occur very close together
PREDICTION;
CS predicts the UCS
Acquisition -
the probability of a CR increase as the CS is paired with the UCS
Extinction
- The probability of a CR decreases as the CS and the UCS stop being paired together
Spontaneous recovery -
the CS spontaneously prompts the CR after extinction
Savings -
when the original pairing is renewed after extinction, the CR becomes stronger more quickly
Stimulus generalization -
once a CR has been conditioned to a particular CS, similar stimuli may also elicit the response
Stimulus Discrimination -
the process by whch an organism learns to respond differently to stimuli that are distinct from the CS on some dimension
Taste Aversions -
learned associations with a feeling
biological preparedness —
the idea that an organism is innately predisposed to form associations between certain stimuli and responses
THORNDIKE’S LAW OF EFFECT
Behavior is controlled by its consequences; behavior that is reinforced increase, while behavior that is punished decreases
REINFORCEMENT
A reinforcer is any consequence that strengthens or increases behavior; may be positive or negative
Positive REINFORCEMENT
- this strengthens a response by presenting or adding a desirable stimulus after a response
NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
strengthens a response by removing an aversive stimulus after a response
A Punisher
is an aversive consequence that weakens or decreases the frequency of a behavior; may be positive or negative
Positive punishment
- the application or addition of an unpleasant stimulus
Negative punishment
- the removal of a pleasant stimulus
Fixed-interval:
reinforce the first response after a fixed time period
Biweekly pay
Fixed-ratio:
reinforce the behavior after a set number of responses
After every third time dog rolls over, you give treat
Variable-interval:
requires that a given amount of time elapses between one reinforced response and the next, ON THE AVERAGE
random pop quizzes
Variable-ratio:
requires that, on the average, a given number of responses be performed before a response is reinforced
slot machine
Shaping
- the systematic reinforcement of gradual approximations toward the desired behavior
Gradient of reinforcement -
the length of time that occurs between the operant response and the reinforcement (or punishment)
Length of time affects strength of condition
Premack Principle -
more preferred activities reinforce less preferred ones
“Place Learning” group
rats learns and performs better because they’re creating a map of the maze
LEARNED HELPLESSNESS
A phenomenon in which exposure to inescapable and uncontrollable aversive events produces passive behavior.
INSTINCTIVE DRIFT
The tendency of an animal to revert to instinctive behaviors that can interfere with the performance of an operantly conditioned response.
OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING
Defined as learning by observing and imitating the behavior of others
Vicarious Learning -
You can always learn from watching other people, you don’t have to do it yourself to learn
MEMORY
The persistence of learning over time via the storage and retrieval of information
