Chapter 7 - Learning

Question 1

Brief overview of classical (Pavlovian) conditioning?

Answer 1

Occurs when two different stimuli come to be associated with one another; dos not require any action on the part of the learner.

Question 2

Brief overview of operant conditioning?

Answer 2

When an animal or person operates on their environment to produce particular results.

Question 3

What are the 4 key terms of classical conditioning?

Answer 3

1. Unconditioned stimulus (US)
2. Unconditioned response (UR)
3. Conditioned stimulus (CS)
4. Conditioned response (CR)

Question 4

In classical conditioning, what is acquisition?

Answer 4

The gradual formation of an association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.

Question 5

What is extinction? (classical conditioning)

Answer 5

A process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 6

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 6

A process in which a previously extinguished response re-emerges following presentation of the conditioned stimulus.

Question 7

What is stimulus generalization?

Answer 7

Occurs when stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to the conditioned stimulus also elicit the conditioned response.

Question 8

What is stimulus discrimination?

Answer 8

A differentiation between two similar stimuli when only one of them is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 9

What are 2 classical conditioning associations that are easier made than others?

Answer 9

1. taste aversion

2. biological preparedness

Question 10

What is the Rescorla-Wagner model?

Answer 10

A cognitive model of classical conditioning which states that the strength of the CS-US association is determined by the extent to which the US is unexpected or surprising.

Question 11

What is second-order conditioning?

Answer 11

When something is consistently paired with the conditioned stimulus, then without the unconditioned stimulus, it leads to a conditioned response.
i.e. Dog conditioned to salivate with bell, then light also provided with bell, and then just bell alone with elicit salivary response.

Question 12

What is Hebb’s Rule?

Answer 12

Neurons that fire together, wire together”; Neuroplasticity allows for conditioning.

Question 13

What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?

Answer 13

Any behaviour that leads to a satisfying state of affairs is more likely to occur again, and any behaviour that leads to an annoying state of affairs is less likely to reoccur.

Question 14

Define operant conditioning?

Answer 14

A learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that is will be performed in the future.

Question 15

Define classical conditioning?

Answer 15

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a reflexive response because it has become associated with a stimulus that ALREADY produces that response.

Question 16

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 16

A stimulus that occurs after the response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated.

Question 17

What is shaping?

Answer 17

Involves reinforcing behaviours that are increasingly similar to the desired behaviour.

Question 18

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 18

Increases the probability of behaviour being repeated by giving stimulus.

Question 19

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 19

Increases the probability of behaviour being repeated by the removal of stimulus.

Question 20

What is positive punishment?

Answer 20

Decreases the probability of behaviour being repeated by giving stimulus.

Question 21

What is negative punishment?

Answer 21

Decreases the probability of behaviour being repeated by the removal of stimulus.

Question 22

What is the Premack Principle?

Answer 22

More probable behaviours will reinforce less probable behaviours.

Question 23

2 umbrella schedules of reinforcement?

Answer 23

1. Continuous

2. Intermittent

Question 24

What are the 4 types of partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedules?

Answer 24

1. Fixed schedule
2. Variable schedule
3. Ratio schedule
4. Interval schedule

Question 25

Fixed-interval vs. Variable-interval schedules?

Answer 25

Both involve the passage of time; variable is unpredictable while fixed is of a uniform quantity.

Question 26

Fixed-ratio vs. Variable-ratio schedules?

Answer 26

Both involve a change in behaviour/quantity; variable is unpredictable while fixed is of a uniform quantity.

Question 27

Which schedule of reinforcement in operant conditioning is the most effective?

Answer 27

Variable-ratio.

Question 28

Who founded the theory of Latent Learning?

Answer 28

Edward Tolman

Question 29

What is latent learning?

Answer 29

Reinforcement has more of an impact on performance, rather than acquisition/learning.
i.e. rats can learn a path through a maze without reinforcement, but do not reveal their learning until it is reinforced.

Question 30

What is learned helplessness?

Answer 30

When the organism’s escape responses are ineffective at decreasing the painful events being experienced, the escape and avoidance responses eventually stop.

Question 31

What is Bandura’s “Social Learning”?

Answer 31

Vicarious learning; In other words, watching another person act, including any consequences the acting person experiences, can indirectly (i.e., vicariously) reinforce that action in the learner when she finds herself in a similar situation.