Classical and operant conditioning Flashcards
What are the main behaviourist assumptions?
- We are born a ‘blank slate’ with a limited range of reflex actions
- All behaviours are learned through interactions with our environment
- Behaviour is simply a response to environmental stimuli
What are the stimulus response relationships before classical conditioning?
UCS -> UCR
NS -> No response
What behaviours are behaviourists interested in?
Behaviourists are interested only in observable behaviours that can be objectively
measured using scientific methods.
What are the stimulus response relationships during classical conditioning?
NS + UCS -> UCR
What are the stimulus response relationships after classical conditioning?
CS -> CR
How does classical conditioning work?
An unconditioned stimulus (UCS) produces the (reflex) unconditioned response
(UCR) – with no learning. If a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with a UCS (that produces an unconditioned response), the NS becomes associated with the USC. After repeated pairing of the NS and the UCS, the NS becomes ‘conditioned’ and is now the conditioned stimulus, that produces a conditioned response
How did Pavlov discover classical conditioning?
Pavlov accidentally discovered classical conditioning. He discovered that after a period of time, dogs salivated at the sound of a bell, as that is what rung before they had their food, therefore the bell is associated with food.
For Pavlov’s experiment, before conditioning what was the stimulus-response relationships for each object?
Food (UCS) -> Salivating (UCR)
Bell (NS) -> No response
For Pavlov’s experiment, during conditioning what was the stimulus-response relationships for each object?
Bell (NS) + Food (UCS) -> Salivating (UCR)
For Pavlov’s experiment, after conditioning what was the stimulus-response relationships for each object?
Bell (CS) -> Salivating (CR)
What were Skinner’s views on classical conditioning?
Skinner believed that classical conditioning was too simple to offer a complete explanation of complex human behaviour. He stated that the causes of an action and its consequences should be studied. He stated that our behaviours are determined by their consequences
What are the two types of positive reinforcers?
Primary reinforcers and secondary reinforcers
How did Skinner use positive reinforcement with rats?
Skinner observed that as the rat moved around the cage it would
‘accidentally’ press a lever, when this happened a food pellet (a positive reinforcer) was dropped. Skinner observed that very quickly, the hungry rat began to intentionally press the lever to obtain food. He suggested that the rat had ‘learned’ to that pressing the lever had consequences and was motivated to repeat the behaviour in pursuit of the reward it received.
How did Skinner use negative reinforcement with rats?
Skinner also showed how negative reinforcement could be used to shape the rats’ behaviour. He found that rats could be conditioned to perform the same behaviour (lever pressing) to avoid an unpleasant stimulus. He subjected the rats to an electric shock whilst they were in the Skinner box. As they moved around the box, they ‘accidentally’ pressed the lever and this stopped the shock. They quickly learned to go straight to the lever and press it as
soon as the electric shock was switched on. This shows that the rats were motivated to repeat the lever pressing to avoid an unpleasant experience. Skinner called this escape learning.
What did Skinner do in a variation of this study?
In a variation of this study, Skinner turned on a light just before the electric shock was
switched on. He found that the rats quickly learned to press the lever when the light came on to
prevent the electric shock. He called this avoidance learning.
