Chapter 6: Conditioning & Learning Flashcards
What is Learning
Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour due to experience
Associative learning
the formation of simple associations among stimuli and responses
Cognitive learning
understanding, thinking, knowing, anticipating,
or otherwise making use of information-rich higher mental processes e.g. lecture, reading
concepts of learning:
- Antecedents
- Consequences
- Reinforcements
Antecedents
events that precede a response; more important in classical conditioning
Consequences
effects that follow a response; more important in operant conditioning
Reinforcements
any event that increases the probability of a response occurring
what is classical conditioning
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response which is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
stimulus that does not cause a response
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
a stimulus that naturally causes response
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
natural response caused by UCS
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
stimulus that causes a response after being
paired with UCS
Conditioned Response (CR)
learned responsed caused by CS
Higher-Order Conditioning
a CS is later used to reinforce further learning i.e. the CS is used as though it were a UCS.
Extinction
weakening of a conditioned response through removal of reinforcement e.g. continue to ring bell without meat powder
Spontaneous recovery
reappearance of a learned response following apparent extinction
Stimulus generalization
a tendency to respond to stimuli that are
similar, but not identical, to a conditioned stimulus (e.g. responding to a buzzer when the conditioning stimulus was a bell)
Stimulus discrimination
the learned ability to respond differently to
similar stimuli (e.g., learning to respond differently to various types of bells: alarms, school, timer)
Phobia
fear that persists even when no realistic danger exists (e.g., arachnophobia; fear of spiders)
Conditioned emotional response (CER)
earned emotional reaction to a previously neutral stimulus
Desensitization Techniques: fear
decreasing fear or anxiety by exposing phobic people gradually to feared stimuli while they stay calm and relaxed (fear is not reinforced)
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.
Operant Conditioning: Positive reinforcement
when a response is followed by a reward or other positive event
Operant Conditioning: Negative reinforcement
when a response is followed by the removal of an unpleasant event; end of discomfort
Operant Conditioning: Positive punishment
any aversive/unpleasant consequence that follows a response and decreases the likelihood of it recurring (e.g., a spanking)
Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment
removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)
Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment
removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)
Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment
removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)
Operant Conditioning: Response chaining
a linked series of actions that leads to reinforcement e.g. cooking & eating after, or completing 3 assignments + 1 exam to get an A
Operant Conditioning: Shaping
gradual molding of responses to the desired pattern – rats can even drive cars!
Operant Conditioning: Primary reinforcer
unlearned and natural; satisfies physiological needs (e.g., food, water, sex)
Operant Conditioning: Secondary reinforcer
learned reinforcer (e.g., money, grades, approval, praise); gains reinforcing properties by associating with a primary reinforcer
Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement Schedules
choreographs/plans for determining which responses will be reinforced i.e. continuous vs partial
acquisition
refers to the period when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response
when does operant learning work the best?
when done immediately after the desired behavior
Reinforcement Examples
Observational Learning
learning is achieved by watching and imitating the actions of another or noting the consequences of those actions
Conditions of Observational Learning
- Learners must pay attention to the model & remember what was done
- Learners must be able to produce observed behavior (not all can perform
gymnastics though we watch gymnasts on TV). - Learner is more likely to imitate behavior if model is successful or has been
rewarded for a response - Learner is more likely to repeat learned behavior also when it is reinforced
do all children imitate blindly?
Not really, observational learning only prepares a person to duplicate a response. It also depends on whether or not the model was reinforced or punished for his/her behavior.
Cognitive Learning
is an active style of learning that focuses on helping you learn how to maximize your brain’s potential.
Latent learning
occurs without obvious reinforcement and is not demonstrated (or is hidden) until reinforcement is provided
For e.g. suddenly able to roast chicken after living abroad, though never done at home
