Chapter 6: Conditioning & Learning

Question 1

What is Learning

Answer 1

Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour due to experience

Question 2

Associative learning

Answer 2

the formation of simple associations among stimuli and responses

Question 3

Cognitive learning

Answer 3

understanding, thinking, knowing, anticipating,
or otherwise making use of information-rich higher mental processes e.g. lecture, reading

Question 4

concepts of learning:

Answer 4

1. Antecedents
2. Consequences
3. Reinforcements

Question 5

Antecedents

Answer 5

events that precede a response; more important in classical conditioning

Question 6

Consequences

Answer 6

effects that follow a response; more important in operant conditioning

Question 7

Reinforcements

Answer 7

any event that increases the probability of a response occurring

Question 8

what is classical conditioning

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Answer 9

stimulus that does not cause a response

Question 10

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 10

a stimulus that naturally causes response

Question 11

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Answer 11

natural response caused by UCS

Question 12

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 12

stimulus that causes a response after being
paired with UCS

Question 13

Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 13

learned responsed caused by CS

Question 14

Higher-Order Conditioning

Answer 14

a CS is later used to reinforce further learning i.e. the CS is used as though it were a UCS.

Question 15

Extinction

Answer 15

weakening of a conditioned response through removal of reinforcement e.g. continue to ring bell without meat powder

Question 16

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 16

reappearance of a learned response following apparent extinction

Question 17

Stimulus generalization

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 18

the learned ability to respond differently to
similar stimuli (e.g., learning to respond differently to various types of bells: alarms, school, timer)

Question 19

Phobia

Answer 19

fear that persists even when no realistic danger exists (e.g., arachnophobia; fear of spiders)

Question 20

Conditioned emotional response (CER)

Answer 20

earned emotional reaction to a previously neutral stimulus

Question 21

Desensitization Techniques: fear

Answer 21

decreasing fear or anxiety by exposing phobic people gradually to feared stimuli while they stay calm and relaxed (fear is not reinforced)

Question 22

Operant Conditioning

Answer 22

Operant conditioning is a type of associative learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Question 23

Operant Conditioning: Positive reinforcement

Answer 23

when a response is followed by a reward or other positive event

Question 24

Operant Conditioning: Negative reinforcement

Answer 24

when a response is followed by the removal of an unpleasant event; end of discomfort

Question 25

Operant Conditioning: Positive punishment

Answer 25

any aversive/unpleasant consequence that follows a response and decreases the likelihood of it recurring (e.g., a spanking)

Question 26

Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment

Answer 26

removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)

Question 26

Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment

Answer 26

removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)

Question 27

Operant Conditioning: Negative punishment

Answer 27

removal of a positive reinforcer after a response is made (e.g., Bob losing Xbox360 privileges)

Question 28

Operant Conditioning: Response chaining

Answer 28

a linked series of actions that leads to reinforcement e.g. cooking & eating after, or completing 3 assignments + 1 exam to get an A

Question 29

Operant Conditioning: Shaping

Answer 29

gradual molding of responses to the desired pattern – rats can even drive cars!

Question 30

Operant Conditioning: Primary reinforcer

Answer 30

unlearned and natural; satisfies physiological needs (e.g., food, water, sex)

Question 31

Operant Conditioning: Secondary reinforcer

Answer 31

learned reinforcer (e.g., money, grades, approval, praise); gains reinforcing properties by associating with a primary reinforcer

Question 32

Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement Schedules

Answer 32

choreographs/plans for determining which responses will be reinforced i.e. continuous vs partial

Question 33

acquisition

Answer 33

refers to the period when the stimulus comes to evoke the conditioned response

Question 34

when does operant learning work the best?

Answer 34

when done immediately after the desired behavior

Question 35

Reinforcement Examples

Answer 35

Question 36

Observational Learning

Answer 36

learning is achieved by watching and imitating the actions of another or noting the consequences of those actions

Question 37

Conditions of Observational Learning

Answer 37

1. Learners must pay attention to the model & remember what was done
2. Learners must be able to produce observed behavior (not all can perform
   gymnastics though we watch gymnasts on TV).
3. Learner is more likely to imitate behavior if model is successful or has been
   rewarded for a response
4. Learner is more likely to repeat learned behavior also when it is reinforced

Question 38

do all children imitate blindly?

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Cognitive Learning

Answer 39

is an active style of learning that focuses on helping you learn how to maximize your brain’s potential.

Question 40

Latent learning

Answer 40

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