Chapter 5: Learning

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

A relatively permanent change in behaviour that is brought about by experience.

Question 2

Who is the father of classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Ivan Pavlov

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus came to bring about a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about that response.
(NS) + [(UCS) + (UCR)] = (CS –> CR)

Question 4

What is a neutral stimulus?

Answer 4

A stimulus that, before conditioning, does not naturally bring a response

Question 5

What other responses are likely to be learnt through classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Emotional responses.

Question 6

What is phobias?

Answer 6

In extreme cases of classical conditioning, it can lead to phobias

Question 7

What is extinction?

Answer 7

When a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and eventually disappears.

Question 8

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 8

The re-emergence of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest with no further conditioning

Question 9

What is stimulus generalization?

Answer 9

A process in which, after a stimulus has been condition to produce a particular response, stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus provide the same response.

Question 10

What is stimulus discrimination?

Answer 10

If two stimuli are sufficiently different from one another that one triggers a conditioned response but the other does not.

Question 11

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 11

Learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened, depending on its favourable or unfavourable consequences.

Question 12

Who is the father or operant conditioning?

Answer 12

B.F. Skinner

Question 13

What is reinforcement?

Answer 13

The process by which a stimulus increases the probability that a preceding behaviour will be repeated

Question 14

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 14

Any stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding behaviour will occur again

Question 15

What is shaping?

Answer 15

the process of teaching a complex behaviour by rewarding closer and closer approximation of the desired behaviour.

Question 16

What is a positive reinforcer?

Answer 16

Stimulus added to the environment that brings about an increase in a preceding response; giving food, water, money, praise.

Question 17

What is a negative reinforcer?

Answer 17

An unpleasant stimulus whose removal lead to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated in the future.

Question 18

What is punishments?

Answer 18

A stimulus that decreases the probability that a prior behaviour will occur again.

Question 19

What is positive punishment?

Answer 19

Weakens a response through the application of an unpleasant stimulus (spanking a child, time in jail, ticket, etc…)

Question 20

What is negative punishment?

Answer 20

The removal of something pleasant to weaken a response (taking away someones phone/car, demoted)

Question 21

What are the cons of punishment?

Answer 21

1. Frequently ineffective, especially if not delivered shortly after behaviour.
2. Punishment may fail to produce long-lasting behaviour
3. Physical punishment conveys that physical aggression is permissible.

Question 22

What is continuous reinforcement schedule?

Answer 22

It is enforced every time it occurs; learning more rapidly.

Question 23

What is partial (intermittent) reinforcement?

Answer 23

Reinforcement some, but not all the time. Longer lasting behaviour.

Question 24

What is a fixed-ration schedule?

Answer 24

Reinforcement is given only after a specific number or responses. (short pause after each response)

Question 25

What is variable-ratio schedule?

Answer 25

Reinforcement occurs after a varying number of responses rather than fixed number (Responding occurs at a high, steady rate)

Question 26

What is fixed-interval schedule?

Answer 26

Provides reinforcement for a response only if a fixed time period has elapsed, low response rate (Long pauses after each response)

Question 27

What is variable-interval schedule?

Answer 27

The time between reinforcement varies around some average rather than being fixed (responding occurs at a steady rate).

Question 28

Does operant conditioning have discrimination and generalization?

Answer 28

Yes!

Question 29

What is stimulus control training?

Answer 29

The process by which people learn to discriminate stimuli, a behaviour is reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus, but not in its absence. q]

Question 30

What is discriminative stimulus?

Answer 30

Signals the likelihood that reinforcement will follow after a response.