Chapter 7 - Learning

Question 1

Define association

Answer 1

Our minds naturally connect events that occur in sequence

ex. our parent shouts “no”, we get scared, see that angry face and stop

Question 2

Define associative learning

Answer 2

Learning to associate one stimulus with another, or to associate a response with a reward or punishment

Question 3

Who studied classical conditioning

Answer 3

Ivan Pavlov

Question 4

What are the parts of conditioning?

Answer 4

• unconditioned stimulus (food)
• unconditioned response (salivation)
• conditioned stimulus (tone)
• conditioned response (salivation)

Question 5

What is acquisition?

Answer 5

The initial learning stage in classical conditioning in which an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus takes place

ex. psychologist michael tirrell - arousal and onion breath

Question 6

Define extinction

Answer 6

When the unconditioned stimulus
(food) does not follow the conditioned stimulus (tone), conditioned response (salivation) begins to decrease and eventually causes extinction

ex. class experiment - stopped flinching for the word can

Question 7

Define spontaneous recovery

Answer 7

After a rest period, an extinguished CR spontaneously recovers, but if the CS persists alone, the CR becomes extinct again

ex. class experiment - responded to stimulus again after spraying

Question 8

Define stimulus generalization

Answer 8

Tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS

ex. class experiment - finched for words similar to can

Question 9

Define stimulus discrimination

Answer 9

The learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus

ex. class experiment - stopped flinching for similar words after ext.

Question 10

Criticisms of classical conditioning?

Answer 10

Behaviourists suggested that learning is constrained by an animal’s biology

Question 11

Who is John Watson?

Answer 11

Little Albert Experiment - wanted to prove that even emotions and behaviours like fears are just bundles of conditioned responses

Question 12

Define classical conditioning

Answer 12

Involves respondent behaviour that occurs as an automatic response to a certain stimulus (uncontrollable)

Question 13

Define operant conditioning

Answer 13

Involves operant behaviour, a behaviour that operates on the environment producing rewarding or punishing stimuli and a controlled response

Question 14

Who is Thorndike?

Answer 14

Law of effect - rewarded behaviour is likely to occur again

Question 15

Who is B.F Skinner?

Answer 15

Studied operant conditioning

Question 16

What is an operant chamber/Skinner box?

Answer 16

Comes with a bar that an animal manipulates to obtain a reinforcer like food or water and the response is recorded

Question 17

What is the process of establishing a behaviour not presently performed?

Answer 17

Shaping

Question 18

What is reinforcement?

Answer 18

Any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows

Question 19

What are the types of reinforcement?

Answer 19

positive reinforcement: add a desirable stimulus
negative reinforcement: remove an aversive stimulus

ex. giving someone stickers, and taking away chores if they do work

Question 20

What is a punishment?

Answer 20

An aversive event that decreases the behaviour it follows

Question 21

What are the types of punishments?

Answer 21

positive punishment: administer an aversive stimulus
negative stimulus: withdraw a desirable stimulus

ex. a parking ticket, and taking away screentime

Question 22

Define fixed-ratio schedule

Answer 22

Reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

ex. buy 1, get 1 free

Question 23

Define variable-ratio schedule

Answer 23

Reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses

ex. lottery ticket, slot machine, fishing

Question 24

Define fixed-interval schedule

Answer 24

Reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed

ex. checking Google Classroom for a mark

Question 25

Define variable-interval schedule

Answer 25

Reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals

ex. uniform check, pop quiz

Question 26

Define intrinsic motivation

Answer 26

The desire to perform a behaviour for its own sake

Question 27

Define extrinsic motivation

Answer 27

The desire to perform a behaviour due to promised rewards or threats of punishment

Question 28

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 28

Active during observational learning - make it seem like you are doing the act yourself, make behaviours contagious (yawning, laughing)

Question 29

Who studied the idea of mirror neurons?

Answer 29

Giacomo Rizzolatti

Question 30

Define imitation onset

Answer 30

Learning by observation begins early in life (12 months)

Question 31

What is Bandura’s Bobo Doll Study?

Answer 31

Indicated that children learn through imitating adults, especially aggression

Question 32

Examples of anti social effects?

Answer 32

• abusive parenting can tend children to become aggressive and violent
• men who abuse their wives impact their sons to abuse their partners

Question 33

Define positive observational learning

Answer 33

Prosocial (positive, helpful) models have prosocial effects

ex. children who have parents that are charitable = more likely to copy