Chapter 7 Flashcards
learning
the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information or behaviors
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. the events may be two stimuli (classical conditioning) or may be a response and its consequence (operant conditioning)
stimulus
event or situation that evokes a response
respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli
operant behavior
behavior the operates on the environment, producing a consequence
cognitive learning
the acquisition of mental information whether by observational events, by watching others, or through language
classical conditioning
type of leaning in which we link two or more stimuli. as a result, the first stimulus comes to elicit anticipation of the second stimulus
behaviorism
the view that psychology:
1. should be an objective science
2. studies behavior without reference to mental processes
today, most psychologists agree with 1 but not 2
unconditional response (UR) in classical conditioning
an unlearned, naturally occurring response (ex. salivation) to an unconditioned stimulus (US) (ex. food in mouth)
unconditioned stimulus (US) in classical conditioning
a stimulus that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers an unconditional response (UR)
conditioned response (CR) in classical conditioning
a learned response to a previously neutral (now conditioned) stimulus
conditioned stimulus (CS) in classical conditioning
an originally neutral stimulus that after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)
acquisition in classical conditioning
the initial stage when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditional stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response
higher order conditioning
procedure in which the conditioned stimulus is paired with a new neutral stimulus (NS) creating a second (usually weaker) conditioned stimulus
ex. tone = food then add a light: tone + light = food so light = food
extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response.
occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus (US) does not follow a conditioned stimulus (CS).
occurs in operant conditioning when a response is no longer inforced
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response (CR)
generalization
in classical conditioning, the tendency once a response has been conditioned for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimuli to elicit similar responses.
in operant conditioning, generalization occurs when responses learned in one situation occur in other similar situations
discrimination
Classical conditioning is a type of learning that involves forming associations between two stimuli: In this process, discrimination is the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
in operant conditioning: the ability to distinguish responses that are reinforced from similar responses that are not reinforced
operant conditioning
type of learning in which a behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcer or less likely to recur if followed by a punisher
who did research on classical conditioning and on what?
Pavlov with salivating dogs
who did research on operant conditioning and on what?
Skinner with skinner’s box and animals learning rewards after doing a task
law of effect
thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
operant chamber
a box (“skinner’s box”) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food or water reinforcer. attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing/key pecking.
reinforcement in operant conditioning
any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
shaping in operant conditioning
procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards the desired behavior/outcome
ex. rewarding rat for getting close to lever
positive rienforcement
presenting a pleasurable stimulus. a positive reinforcer is any stimulus that when presented after a response, strengthens the response
negative rienforcement
increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing averse stimulus. a negative reinforcer is any stimulus that when removed after a response, strengthens the response.
negative reinforcement IS NOT punishment
primary rienforcer
an innately reinforced stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need (food when hungry)
conditioned rienforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer
sound = food, sound + light = food so light = food
reinforcement schedule
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
partial (intermittent) rienforcement schedule
rienforces a response only part of the time. results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction then with continuous reinforcement
continuous rienforcement
rienforcing the desired response every time it occurs
fixed-ratio schedule (in operant conditioning)
a rienforcement schedule that rienforces a response only after a specified number of responses
variable-ratio schedule (in operant conditioning)
a rienforcement schedule that rienforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
fixed-interval schedule (in operant conditioning)
a rienforcmeent schedule that rienforces a response only after a specified time period has elapsed
variable-interval schedule (in operant conditioning)
a reinforcement schedule that rienforces a response to a stimulus at unpredictable time intervals
rienforcement rates are higher when on a “BLANK” schedule rather than “BLANK” schedule
(ratio and interval)
ratio ; interval
responding is more consistant with “BLANK” schedule than a “BLANK” schedule
(set and variable)
variable ; set
punishment
an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows
positive punishment
administering averse stimulus
ex. spraying a barking dog with water
negative punishment
removing a rewarding stimulus
ex. no more driving
drawbacks of physical punishment (for children)
- punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten
- physical punishment does not replace the unwanted behavior
- teaches discrimination among situations
- punishment can teach fear
- can increase agresion by modeling violence
preparedness
a biological predisposition to learn associations (such as between taste and nausea) that have survival value
for conditioning to occur…“BLANK” must immediately follow “BLANK”
unconditioned stimulus (US) ; conditioned stimulus (CS) or neutral stimulus (NS)
instinctive drift
tendency of a learned behavior to gradually revert to biologically predisposed patterns
cognitive map
a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment
ex. after exploring a maze, rats act as if they have learned a cognitive map of it
latent learning
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
observational learning
learning by observing others
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons which some scientists believe fire when we perform certain actions or observe others doing so. the brains mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy
ex. monkey sees researcher eat ice cream cone
prosocial behavior
positive, constructive, helpful behavior. opposite of antisocial behavior
