Chapter 5: Learning Flashcards
The definition of learning
a relatively enduring change in behavior or thinking that results from experiences
Habituation
a basic form of learning evident when an organism does not respond as strongly or as often to an event following multiple exposures to it
Classical conditioning
learning process in which two stimuli become associated with each other
Operant conditioning
learning that occurs when voluntary actions become associated with their consequences
What does unconditioned mean?
unlearned
What does conditioned mean?
learned
What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
classical conditioning involves associating an involuntary response and a stimulus, while operant conditioning is about associating a voluntary behavior and a consequence
Neutral stimulus (NS)
a stimulus that does not cause a relevant automatic or reflexive response
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
a stimulus that automatically triggers an involuntary response without any learning needed
Unconditioned response (UCR)
a reflexive, involuntary response to an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
a previously neutral stimulus that an organism learns to associate with an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response (CR)
a learned response to a conditioned stimulus
Stimulus generalization
the tendency for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit the conditioned response
EX.- Pavlov’s dogs salivate to a metronome ticking at 80-100 bpm
Stimulus discrimination
the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli sufficiently different from it
EX.- Pavlov’s dogs salivate to a high pitch tone, but not a low-pitch tone
Conditioned taste aversion
a powerful form of classical conditioning that occurs when an organism learns to associate the taste of a particular food or drink with illness
Extinction
the disappearance of a conditoned response to a stimulus
Spontaneous recovery
the appearance of a conditioned response following its extinction
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
behaviors are more likely to be repeated when followed by pleasurable outcomes, and less likely to be repeated when followed by unpleasant outcomes
Primary reinforcers
satisfy a biological need
Secondary reinforcers
do not satisfy biological needs but often gain power through their association with primary reinforcers
Positive reinforcement
the process by which reinforcers are added or presented following a target behavior
Negative reinforcement
the removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a target behavior, which increases the likelihood of it occurring again
Positive punishment
something aversive or disagreeable is applied following a certain behavior
Negative punishment
taking away something pleasant or valuable following a certain behavior
Continuous reinforcement
a schedule of reinforcement in which target behavior is reinforced
Partial reinforcement
a schedule of reinforcement in which target behaviors are reinforced intermittently, not continuously
Fixed-Ratio schedule
a schedule in which the subject must exhibit a predetermined number of desired behaviors before a reinforcer is given
Variable-Ratio schedule
a schedule in which the number of desired behaviors that must occur before a reinforcer is given changes across trials and is based on an average number of behaviors to be reinforced
Ex.- lottery tickets
Fixed-Interval schedule
a schedule in which the reinforcer comes after a pre-established interval of time; the behavior is only reinforced after the given interval is over
Variable-Interval schedule
a schedule on which a behavior is reinforced after some time, but the length of the interval changes from to trial
Observational learning
most likely when learners,
- pay attention to the model
- remember what they observed
- are capable of performing the observed behavior
- are motivated to demonstrate the behavior
Latent learning
learning that occurs without awareness regardless of reinforcement, and is not evident until needed
Cognitive map
a mental representation of a physical space
Instinctive drift
the tendency for animals to revert to instinctual behaviors after a behavior pattern has been learned
Successive approximations
a method that uses reinforcers to condition a series of small steps that gradually approach the target behavior
Shaping
the process by which a person observes the behaviors of another organism, providing reinforcers if the organism performs at a required level
