L3

Question 1

Definition: Learning vs Conditioning

Answer 1

1. Learning: refers to a RELATIVELY permanent CHANGE in knowledge or behavior as a result of experience
2. Conditioning: involves learning based on [association between two events] in the environment, or between behaviors and its consequences

Question 2

Classical Conditioning

Answer 2

1. Developed by Ivan Pavlov
2. a process in which a NEUTRAL STIMULUS becomes associated with another stimulus through repeated pairing with that stimulus
3. Mechanism
   - Before Conditioning
   
   • unconditioned stimulus (UCS): naturally elicits an instinctive response
   • unconditioned response (UCR): a natural response triggered by an UCS

• During Conditioning
  
  • a neutral stimulus (NS) pairs with the UCS
• After Conditioning
  
  • conditioned stimulus (CS): NS becomes the CS to elicit a CR
  • conditioned response (CR): the acquired response triggered by a CS

Question 2

Acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery

Answer 2

1. conditioned, unconditioned and response with respect to different phase
2. drops of saliva increases again after 24 hours rest - Spontaneous Recovery
3. check L3

Question 2

Acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery - Process

Answer 2

1. Acquisition
   - forming new responses since the CS-UCS ASSOCIATION is learned
2. Extinction
   - wewakening conditioned responses when CS IS PRESENTED ALONE with no UCS repeatedly
3. Spontaneous Recovery
   - REAPPEARING OF AN EXTINGUISHED RESPONSE after a period of non-exposure to the CS (each time the intensity decays)

Question 2

Little Albert by John Watson

Answer 2

1. Little Albert fear the white and furry objects (by loud noise whenever the object is presented)
2. Stimulus Generalization
   - elicits the same response to similar stimuli
3. Stimulus Discrimination
   - makes a particular response to some stimuli BUT NOT TO OTHERS

Question 3

Little Albert Process

Answer 3

1. Classical conditioning to an emotional response
2. 9-month-old albert exposed to stimuli and observed
3. white rat paired with loud noise
4. albert conditioned to fear white eat
5. e.g. Attractive woman -> positive effeect
   Attractive woman + car -> positive effect
   car -> positive effect

Question 3

Acquiring Phobia

Answer 3

• before conditioning
  NS thunderstorm -> no response
  UCS Plane Crash -> UCR anxiety
• during conditioning
  NS (thurderstorm) + UCS (plane crash) -> UCR (Anxiety)
• after conditioning
  CS (thunderstorm) -> CR (anxiety)

Question 3

Operant conditioning

Answer 3

1. developed by B.F. SKinner
   - a learning process through which the frequency of a behavior increases or decreases as a result of its CONSEQUENCES
2. two types of consequences
   - reinforcement: increases the likelihood of a particular behavior
   - punishment: decreases the likelihood of a particular behavior

Question 3

Reinforcement

Answer 3

1. reinforcement
   - increase the likelihood of the particular behaviors
   behavior -> favorable consequence -> increase in behavior

Question 4

Punishment

Answer 4

1. decrease the likelihood of the particular behaviors
   - behavior -> unfavorable consequence -> decreases in behavior

Question 5

Skinner’s box

Answer 5

1. reinforcement
   - positive reinforcement
   behavior (response: press lever)
   consequences (rewarding stimulus presented: food delivered)
   effect on behavior
2. negative reinforcement
   - negative reinforcement
   behavior (response: press lever)
   consequence (aversive stimulus removed: shock turned off)
   effect on behavior (tendency to press lever increases)

Question 6

other issues about Reinforcement (immediate and shaping)

Answer 6

1. IMMEDIATE consequences are more effective than the delayed ones
2. acquisition through SHAPING
   - pigeon turn (guided missiles)
   - providing reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response

Question 7

Response and consequences

Answer 7

1. positive (add stimulus)
   - reinforcement - add pleasant stimulus to INCREASES/MAINTAIN behavior
   punishment - add aversive stimulus to DECREASE behavior
2. negative (remove stimulus)
   - reinforcement - remove aversive stimulus to INCREASE/MAINTAIN behavior
   punishment - remove pleasant stimulus to DECREASE behavior

Question 8

Response and consequences (not necessary to remember but must understand it)

Answer 8

1. positive reinforcement!
   - BEHAVIOR: you turn in homework on time
   - STIMULUS: teacher praises you for turning in your homework on time
   - EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR: you turn in your homework on time again
2. negative reinforcement!
   - behavior: you take aspirin for a headache
   - stimulus: your headache goes away
   - effect on behavior: you take aspirin again the next time you have a headache
3. positive punishment!
   - behavior: you don’t clean up your room when your parents asks you to
   - stimulus: your parent yells at you for not cleaning up your room
   - effect on behavior: you stop dawdling and clean up your room to avoid being nagged about it
4. negative punishment!
   - behavior: you come home 2 hours after curfew
   - stimulus: you are grounded for 2 weeks
   - effect on behavior: you don’t come home late the next time you’re allowed to go out with friends

Question 9

Schedules of consequences

Answer 9

1. Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR): provided after A FIXED NUMBER OF RESPONSES
2. Variable Ratio Schedule (VR): Provided after an unpredictably VARYING NUMBER OF RESPONSES
3. Fixed Interval Schedule (FI): Provided after a FIXED AMOUNT OF TIME
4. Variable interval schedule (VI): Provided after an unpredictably VARYING AMOUNT OF TIME
5. ratio: number of responses
   interval: time

Question 10

Summary of Conditioning

Answer 10

1. Classical Conditioning
   - stimulus 1: doctor’s office
   - stimulus 2: shot
   -> a child associates going to a doctor’s office
2. Operant conditioning
   - behavior: swimming
   - consequences: gold medal
   -> performing well in a swimming competition (behavior)

Question 11

Observational Learning

Answer 11

1. developed by Albert Bandura
   - Learning through Observation!
   
   • Social Learning Theory: Limitation or modelling
   • video on Bobo doll experiment

Question 12

Schedules of reinforcement and patterns of response

Answer 12

1. Conclusion
   - A steeper slope indicates a faster rate of response over time
   - “variable” schedule leads to higher resistance to extinction
2. Check the graph

Question 13

Observation modelling: Four Processes in Modelling

Answer 13

1. Attention
   - focus on the model’s BEHAVIOR and ITS CONSEQUENCES
2. Retention
   - REMEMBER what you have observed
3. Reproduction
   - convert the mental images into OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOR (based on your ability / competence)
4. Motivation
   - consider performing that behavior if it is POSITIVE to you

Question 14

” See aggression…do aggression” IV and DV

Answer 14

1. Bobo dolls experiment
   - IV: Aggressive model with and without consequences (reinforcement vs punishment)
   - DV: aggression of level (e.g. number of hits on Bobo doll)
2. Procedures
   - children watched an adult model directed an aggressive act to the Bobo doll
   - in Experiment condition A, the model was REWARDED for their aggressive act
   - in experiment condition B, the model was PUNISHED for their aggressive act
   - in control condition, no model was SHOWN to the children

Question 15

Bobo Doll Procedures

Answer 15

1. Procedures
   - children watched an adult model directed an aggressive act to the Bobo doll
   - in Experiment condition A, the model was REWARDED for their aggressive act
   - in experiment condition B, the model was PUNISHED for their aggressive act
   - in control condition, no model was SHOWN to the children
   - the children were left alone in the room with the bobo doll, and video taped their behaviors

Question 16

Bobo doll results

Answer 16

1. A>C>B

Question 17

Bobo Doll implications

Answer 17

1. Learning through watching -> no reinforcement involved
   - vicarious or “indirect” reinforcement
2. Learning vs conditioning
   - involves COGNITIVE processes
   - voluntary responses
   - novel behaviors
3. daily life application
   - physical punishment on children for parenting practices?
   - children observes parents and learn to fear a stimulus without being directly exposed to an aversive situation
   - children learn to become aggressive at home, and parents’ ignorance of it leads to a violent streak in the latter -> bully people at school

Question 18

Mirror Neurons

Answer 18

1. neurons (in frontal lobe) that fire when observing other people perform certain action
2. not necessary model bad thing!

Question 19

Conclusion (Learning)

Answer 19

1. 3 types of learning theories - classical conditioning: stimulus-and-responses - operant conditioning: reinforcement vs punishment - observation learning: from watching to performing 2. review of the definition of learning - are our behavior mechanically or passively influenced by the environment ? - role of THINKING and MEMORY