Introduction to psychology Chapter 8 (Basic Learning) Flashcards
Definition of learning
The process of sustainable change of behaviours as a function of experience
What is the use of learning
Learning provides flexible opportunities for adaption to a changing and unpredictable enviroment
What is a reflex and name examples
A reflex is a simple (automatic) stimulus-response sequence mediated from the nervous system
Examples are pupil light reflex, startle reflex etc
Explain habituition
Repeated presentation of stimulus leads to lessened response of most reflexes.
Basically its like getting used to something.
It is also one of the simplest and most important things in learning
Explain classical conditioning with it’s formal words
Classical conditioning is a form of learning in which organisms learn to predict events based on associations between events. Here a new stimulus-response sequence is produced. There are 4 procedures: 1. Unconditioned stimulus (food) 2. Unconditioned response (salvia) 3. Conditioned stimulus (bell) 4. Conditioned stimulus (salvia)
Explain an example of classical conditioning in advertising
Hot woman next to a car UCS: Lady UCR: arousal CS: car CR: arousal for the car
Explain extinction and it’s uses and problems
Extinction is when the CR to the CS decreases because not being presented with the UCS.
This is very useful for Behavioural Therapie against phobias and stuff.
After some time, the CR will be spontaneously recovered a bit, like in habituation. The CR can also be restored really easily.
Explain generalization and how it can be prevented
Subjects will also react to stimulus similar to the conditioned stimulus. If you don’t give the unconditioned response to the similar conditioned stimulus (let it extinct), it will stop. This is called distinction.
Explain the conflict between stimulus-response and stimulus-stimulus (expctancy) theory
Stimulus response says that there is a direct learned connection between the CS and the Response.
Stimulus Stimulus says that that animals just associate both of the stimulus, instead of the response. When the CS is present, the subjects EXPECT the UCS, which results in the CR.
This is proven because when you habituation the UCS, the CS one is also extinguished.
What is evidence for the expectancy theory
- The CS must come before the UCS to be conditioned
- The CS must signal high probability of the UCS to be conditioned
- There cannot already be a good predictor to the UCS
Explain an example of conditioned hunger and conditioned sexual arousal
When we are conditioned to food with something, we will get hungry and look for food just because of the CS. This is used a lot in the fast food industry, with signs of MCDonalds everywhere
If you have a CS before getting aroused, the CS may arouse you just as that. This works especially good as early arousal in men can increase the number of semen when ejaculation.
What are conditioned drug reactions and what is the best way to to not go into rehab.
The body produces compensation actions after seeing cues for a drug intake, after the cue (CS like enviroment) is conditioned with the drug (UCS). This results in the drug having less effect in the common enviroment but can also result in a higher effect and even overdose in a unknown environment.
To escape a drug addiction a person may have to escape into a very new enviroment as the old one has too many CS for a drug which results in craving the drug and also withdrawal symptoms
What is operant conditioning and how does it differ from classical conditioning
Operant conditioning involve self initiated operant responses, which are functioning as a way for the subject to reach a desired effect. It is the learning process in wich the consequences of an operant response affect the probability that the response will be repeated in the future.
Classical conditioning is about associating behaviour.
How does a trial and error in operant conditioning look in a graph
Time to complete the task goes down on average, but there are many variations as there are random errors involved
What is thorndikes law of effect
Responses that produce a pleasant effect in a certain situation will be displayed more often.
Responses that produce an unpleasant effect in a certain situation will be displayed less often.
What and why is the a stimulus change that increases the frquency of the response
A reinforcer. This is used instead of reward as it is a neutral term to the mind.
What is shaping
Shaping is a step by step is when you condition a complex response by rewarding small steps.
How is it called when a reinforcement occurs only sometimes
Partial reinforcement
It is contrary to continuous reinforcement, where reinforcement happens all the time. Extinction is when it is never reinforced
What reinforcement schedules are there and which are the best
- Fixed ratio (every n response)
- Variable ration (every x response)
- Fixed interval (every n minutes)
- Variable interval (every x minutes)
What types of reinforcements are there
There are positive and negative, and reinforcements and punishments.
Reinforcements always increase responses, punishments always decrease responses.
Positive means something is added, negative means something is taken away.
How can discrimination and generalization in operant conditioning be useful for science
It can help to understand the concepts subjects like animals and babies have by for example having them press buttons for one class and showing similar ones.
Explain overjustification
When responses decline because they are no longer rewarded. This may be a problem In school as rewarding behaviour may have a negative long-term effect.
What are the uses of learning through play
It develops survival skills, practices the instincts and in humans develops intelligence through symbolic play and practices culture.
More complex animals play more and in a more complex style.
What is the use of explorarion
It promotes learning about the enviroment and provides useful knowledge
What is observational learning and what are vicarious reinforcements
Observational learning is learning by watching others, and vicarious reinforcements are learning through the consequences of others
How is food aversion different from classical conditioning
In food aversion the unconditioned response like sickness could come hours after the stimulus lime food and still the animals learn to avoid this food.
In classic conditioning this interval can only be a few seconds.
Also in food aversion the UCR can only be smell or taste.
What are boundaries of classical conditioning in fear
People and animals have to be biologically predisposed to develop fear for something (they fear a rat and snake, but not a block or flowers.
This is why we are scared of sharks but not on cars.
What is biological imprint
When a baby subject imprints the look of the mother within the critical period. This can even be a sound which the baby hears while being in the womb or egg.
There is also sexual imprinting which babys do not mate with baby friends as an act to incest aversion.
