Chapter 7: Learning Flashcards
Classical Conditioning
occurs when a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response
ex. neutral stimulus = the bell
other stimulus = food
classical conditioning involving fear relies on the amygdala
The four basic elements of classical conditioning
- Unconditioned stimulus (US)
- Unconditioned response (UR)
- Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
- Conditioned Response (CR)
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism
- Example: Food (For Dog)
Unconditioned response (UR)
a reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus
- Salavation (Dog Example)
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
a stimulus that is initially neutral and produces no reliable response in an organism
- A bell or something (Dog example)
Conditioned Response
a reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus
- The salavation from the bell (dog example)
Acquisition
the phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together
Second-Order Conditioning
Conditioning where the stimulus that functions as the US is actually the CS from an earlier procedure in which it acquired its ability to produce learning
Extinction
The gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the US is no longer presented.
Spontaneous Recovery
the tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period
Generalization
the CR is observed even though the CS is slightly different from the original one used during acquisition
- using music instead of a bell
Discrimination
the capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli
- clap of hands vs. a bell
Learning
Involves the acquisition of new knowledge, skills, or responses from experience that result in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner
- Learning is based on experience
- Learning produces changes in the organism
- These changes are relatively permanent
biological preparedness
a propensity for learning particular kinds of associations over others
Operant Conditioning
A type of learning in which the consequences of an organism’s behavior determine whther it will be repeated in the future
fear is maintained through operant conditioning
avoiding a fear involved negative reinforcement
instrumental learning = operant conditioning
operant conditioning involves the dopamine based reward system centered in the nucleus accumbens
law of effect
behaviors that are followed by a “satisfying state of affairs” tend to be repeated and those that produce an unpleasant state of affairs” are less likely to be repeated
operant behavior
behavior that an organism produces that has some impact on the environment
Reinforcer
any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the behavior that led to it
Punisher
any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of the behavior that led to it
overjustification effect
when external rewards undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior
Fixed interval schedule (FI)
reinforcers are presented at fixed time periods, provided that the appropriate response is made
- scheduled exams
Slow Learning
Variable Interval Schedule (VI)
A behavior is reinforced based on an average time that has expired since the last reinforcement
- pop quizzes
Slow Learning
Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR)
reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been made
- every 5th box filled (at work or something)
Fast Learning
Variable ratio schedule (VR)
the delivery of reinforcement is based on a particular average number of responses
- slot machines (one out of every 100, but it could come at 1 or it could come at 99 etc)
Fast Learning
Intermittent Reinforcement
only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement
Intermittent-Reinforcement Effect
the fact that operant behaviors that are maintained under intermittent reinforcement schedules resist extinction better than those maintained under coninuous reinforcement
Shaping
learning that results from the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behavior
Latent Learning
something is learned but it is not manifested as a behavioral change until something in the future
Cognitive Map
a mental representation of the physical features of the environment
Observational Learning
learning takes place by watching the actions of others
Diffusion Chain
individuals initially learn a behavior by observing another individual perform that behavior and then serve as a model from which other individuals learn the behavior
Implicit Learning
Learning that takes place largely independent of awareness of both the process and the products of information acquisition
- knowledge that sneaks under the wires
- example
- Driving may have been explicit (focusing on doing everything right at once) to implicit (almost second nature)
Habituation
a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding
- example: when you first moved into your house near the airport the planes were probably really loud, but after a while you began to notice them less and less
Pavlov
Classical Conditioning
Watson
“behaviorism”
classical conditioning “Little Albert”
Fears and phobias can be conditioned
Skinner
operant conditioning
consequences of a behavior will determine whether or not it will happen again
Skinner reinforced movements of pigeons
any behavior followed by consequence will reoccur
Bandura
Social Learning
Focuses on the importance of observing and modeling behaviors, attitudes, and emotions
- Bobo Doll Experiment
- kids watch an adult beat up the Bobo doll. Kids that observed that kind of aggression where more likely to interact in the same manner with the Bobo doll
- can put an non-aggressive child in an environment in which they observe aggression, and their behavior will change
- kids watch an adult beat up the Bobo doll. Kids that observed that kind of aggression where more likely to interact in the same manner with the Bobo doll
DIfference between classical and operate conditioning
- Classical
- organism is passive
- responses are reflexes
- respsones are elicited
- **REINFORCEMENT IS UNRELATED TO LEARNING THE ASSOCIATION **
- learning w/out being aware that we are learning
- Operant
- Organism is active
- responses are voluntary
- responses are emitted
- **REINFORCEMENT IS CONTINGENT ON DESIRED RESPONSE **
- what we learn happens when we act a certain way
Classical Conditioning Learning Curve
Stimulus substitution
rat vs. rabbit, dog etc
(Little Albert’s case of being afraid of a rat which was a CS)
Counterconditioning
a classic conditioning procedure for weakening a CR by associating the CS (fear-producing stimulus) with a new response incompatible with the fear
Systematic Desensitization
technology that creats the situation that the person fears, while remaining in a safe environment in reality
- slowly desensitizes people in a classical conditioning process
- creats a higher-order conditioning
Overjustification Effect
circumstances when external rewards can undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior
- if you like to volunteer, getting paid to do it will make you want to do it less.
Habituation
a decrease in behavioral response following repeated exposure to non-threatening stimuli
(a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in response)
Sensitization
an increase in behavioral response following exposure to a threatening stimulus
