CHP 4 PHYLOGENETIC BEHAVIOR AND PAVLOVIAN LEARNING

Question 1

Phylogenetically selected behavior

Answer 1

genetically “programmed” behaviors elicited by an unconditioned stimulus that we inherit from our parents/ancestors that are needed for survival

Question 2

Phylogenetically selected behavior’s stimulus

Answer 2

unconditioned stimulus

Question 3

Infant phylogenetically selected reflexes

Answer 3

Moro-reflex, Palmar grasp reflex, swimming reflex, rooting reflex, suckling reflex, parachute reflex, respiratory occlusion reflex

Question 4

Moro-reflex

Answer 4

a phylogenetically selected reflex caused by a sudden loss of head support. It causes a baby to extend its head and widely spread its arms with palms in front, finger extended, and thumbs flexed

Question 5

Palmar grasp reflex

Answer 5

a phylogenetically selected reflex that causes a baby to grab something with enough strength to hold much of its weight

Question 6

Habituation

Answer 6

gradual reduction in response following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus

Question 7

Nature

Answer 7

Phylogenetic influences

Question 8

Nurture

Answer 8

Learning (habituation, Pavlovian learning, operant conditioning)

Question 9

Nature v Nurture Debate

Answer 9

nature and nurture work together to influence behavior. natural stimuli and responses can be used in learning behavior.

Question 10

Elicit

Answer 10

when a specific stimulus occasions a specific REFLEX response

Question 11

Evoke

Answer 11

when a specific stimulus occasions ANY behavior

Question 12

Steps of Pavlovian Learning (classical conditioning)

Answer 12

Step 1: Baseline (test that the unconditioned stimulus (US) is neutral)
Step 2: Evaluate the US (confirm that the US elicits an unconditioned resonse (UR)
Step 3: Pavlovian conditioning (present the neutral stim while presenting the US, but the US still elicits the UR)
Step 4: Test for Pavlovian learning (test to see if the neutral stim has become a Conditioned Stimulus (CS) by testing if it evokes a Conditioned Response (CR) without the appearance of the US)

Question 13

Neutral stimulus

Answer 13

a stimulus that doesn’t elicit response of interest

Question 14

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 14

a stim that elicits a response without any prior learning

Question 15

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 15

the response reliably elicited by the US

Question 16

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 16

a formerly neutral stim that now evokes a conditioned response (connection formed through learning)

Question 17

Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 17

the response evoked by the CS (may not be the same as the UR)

Question 18

The Little Albert Experiment

Answer 18

Step 1: Baseline (rat is neutral stim, no reaction to the rat)
Step 2: Evaluate the US (metal bar causes Albert to cry)
Step 3: Pavlovian Conditioning (introduce the rat with the loud sound, but still no response to just the rat)
Step 4: Test for Pavlovian learning (the rat has become a feared thing)

Question 19

3 things learned during Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 19

1) The CS signals a DELAY REDUCTION to the US (the time to the next US is shortened, this is signaled by the appearance of the CS)
2) The CS signals WHEN the US is coming
3) the CS signals WHICH US is coming

Question 20

4 principles of effective Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 20

1) use an important US (the more phylogenetically important the US, the more effective the conditioning)
2) use a salient (noticeable) CS
3) the larger the delay reduction, the faster Pavlovian learning occurs (if the CS indicates that the US will come really soon in comparison to the baseline intervals in which the US usually arrives, the subject learns faster
4) make sure the CS isn’t redundant (the CS has to be unique, and another CS can’t already be in use that signals the delay reduction)

Question 21

delay-reduction ratio + speed of Pavlovian learning

Answer 21

the larger the delay-reduction ratio, the faster individuals acquire Pavlovian learning

Question 22

Delay-reduction ratio equation

Answer 22

US–>US (inter-trial interval) / CS–>US

Question 23

Kamin’s “blocking experiment”

Answer 23

a neutral stimulus (NS) was presented at the same time as the CS, however the NS didn’t acquire CS function because it GAVE NO NEW INFO

Question 24

Pavlovian generalizations

Answer 24

conditioned responding to a neutral/novel stim that RESEMBLES the CS

Question 25

spontaneous (pavlovian?) extinction

Answer 25

present the CS without the US and the CR goes away

Question 26

Generalization gradient

Answer 26

a novel stim that closely resembles the CS will elicit a strong CR, a novel stim that barely resembles the CS will elicit a weak CR

Question 27

Overgeneralization

Answer 27

people w PTSD display overgeneralization of Pavlovian fear conditioning

Question 28

Pavlovian extinction

Answer 28

repeatedly presenting the CS without the US so the CS doesn’t signal a delay reduction to the US anymore

Question 29

Graduated exposure therapy

Answer 29

discovered by Mary Cover Jones
the client is gradually exposed to successively stronger approximations of the CS

Question 30

Graduated exposure therapy steps

Answer 30

1) start with an approximation of the CS that evokes very little of the negative emotion
2) help the client regain calm (breathing, mindfulness, humor)
3) Gradually introduce closer approximations to the CS

Question 31

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 31

increase in conditioned responding following Pavlovian extinction

Question 32

Effective Pavlovian extinction

Answer 32

1) several sessions are conducted
2) sessions are conducted often
3) sessions are continued until the CS no longer evokes the CR

Question 33

Taste-Averson Learning

Answer 33

hating a food/drink that you used to enjoy because you got really sick after eating/drinking it

Question 34

Advertising

Answer 34

Pavlovian learning was used to inc emotional response to ads (used by John Watson after he left the University)