Learning Flashcards
An unlearnt behaviour is…
Innate
Reflexes are not…
Learnt behaviours
Simple Learning types are…
Habituation, Adaptation
Complex Learning types are…
Classical conditioning, Operant conditioning, Observational learning
Pavlov’s Dog experiment is…
Classical Conditioning
What is ‘Extinction’ in Classical conditioning?
Where the conditioned stimulus is eliminated
What is ‘spontaneous recovery’ in Classical conditioning?
Where the extinction has not fully erased the conditioned response and the conditioned response is elicited from the stimuli.
What is stimulus generalisation in Classical conditioning?
Where a range of stimuli can trigger the conditioned response
What is stimulus discrimination in Classical conditioning?
Only learning a conditioned response to a specific stimulus.
Why was the little Albert experiment unethical?
Created fear and distress in an infant, risk of physical harm, used everyday objects as conditioned stimulus, did not eliminate the fear after conditioning the response.
CS
Conditioned Stimulus
UCS
Unconditioned Stimulus
CR
Conditioned Response
UCR
Unconditioned Response
What is ‘Thorndike’s Law of Effect’?
A behaviour is either strengthened or weakened depending on consequences of behaviour
Operant Conditioning
B.S. Skinner created operant learning based on Thorndike’s Law of effect. Suggests that learning is based on voluntary and spontaneous behaviours rather than involuntary (Classical conditioning) and create outcomes such as ‘rewards or positive reinforcement’.
Primary reinforcers
Require little if any learning through association (i.e. food, water, avoidance of pain, etc)
Secondary reinforcer (conditioned)
much more specific and require pairing with stimulus, generally through classical conditioning (money, praise, social approval, validation, etc)
Positive reinforcer
Pleasant stimulus after a particular behaviour (playing video games, treat (chocolate, lollies), toy, etc)
Negative Reinforcer
unpleasant stimulus removed from environment (not doing dishes, no pain, no chores, etc)
Fixed interval schedule of reinforcement
response is reinforced after specific period of time of doing behaviour (payed per hour)
Variable interval schedule of reinforcement
response is reinforced at different unknown periods of time (catching a fish)
Fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement
After a specific number of behaviours (buy 7 coffees get 8th free)
What is observational Learning?
It is defined through learning through observing the reinforcement of others.
Social Learning Theory
Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation-reinforcement
What is learned helplessness?
Learning which can be responding due to a lack of regularity or relationship between responses, reinforcers and punishers.
Learned Helplessness Theory
Where 3 deficits are the outcome from the learned helplessness
A cognitive deficit
A belief that the outcomes are uncontrollable
A motivational deficit
A reduced desire to try and control the outcomes
An emotional deficit
If the outcomes are painful or aversive, fear, and eventually depression can occur
Alternative, revised theory of learned helplessness
The Internal-External dimension, the stable-unstable dimension and the global-specific dimension
Systematic desensitisation
Used to overcome a fear over a specific stimulus (person is placed in an anxiety inducing situation or deal with the real life situation and gradual pace of anxiety until anxiety is diminished. “Counter-conditioning’
Aversion Therapy
Technique used to break bad habits, involves process of pairing of stimuli. Unpleasant stimuli paired with the bad habit, repetition of this process aims to result in extinction of the bad habit. Uses the classical conditioning theory, of techniques which inhibit the maladaptive behaviour by pairing it with an unpleasant stimulus.
Behaviour modification
Based on operant conditioning, change maladaptive behaviours by controlling the consequences of those certain behaviours. Behaviour modification makes use of positive reinforcement (rewards for appropriate behaviour) and punishment (negative consequences for maladaptive behaviour)
Behavioural Shaping
Social reinforcers, material reinforcers, preferred activities. (constantly rewarded for a job well done)
