learning

Question 1

what is learning?

Answer 1

durable change in behaviour or knowledge that is due to experience

Question 2

what is associative learning?

Answer 2

learning through direct experience

Question 3

what is cognitive learning?

Answer 3

acquiring new behaviours and information through observation and information rather than by direct experience

Question 4

what are the 2 types of associative learning?

Answer 4

1. classical conditioning
2. operant conditioning

Question 5

describe classical (pavlovian) conditioning

Answer 5

an initially neural stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus

Question 6

give an example of classical conditioning

Answer 6

dogs getting excited when you put on your coat or pick up their lead

Question 7

what are examples of health related classical conditioning?

Answer 7

• dentist drill
  -white coat syndrome (BP rises when surrounded by doctors but not at home)

Question 8

what are examples of applications of classical conditioning?

Answer 8

• to condition desirable responses eg positive attitudes/ emotional responses or physiological responses (conditioning an immune response by pairing an immunosuppressant with a distinctive behaviour)

Question 9

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 9

• a method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior

Question 10

what does reinforcement mean in operant conditioning?

Answer 10

• occurs when an event following a response/ behaviour increases the likelihood of that response/behaviour occurring again

Question 11

what is positive reinforcement and give an example

Answer 11

• likelihood of the behaviour/ response is increased because a rewarding / positive consequence is presented
  eg studying to receive praise, doing chores to get awards eg money, drinking alcohol to feel a buzz / increase confidence

Question 12

what is negative reinforcement and give an example

Answer 12

• the likelihood of the behaviour / response is increased because an aversive / negative consequence is removed
• studying to remove feelings of guilt, taking painkillers to remove a headache, putting on your seatbelt to remove the annoying warning sound in the car

Question 13

what is ‘shaping’ in operant conditioning?

Answer 13

-shaping refers to a process where small steps are taken and reinforced in order to get to some bigger target behavior.

Question 14

what is an example of shaping in operant conditioning?

Answer 14

learning complex skills eg training animals to do elaborate routines

Question 15

what is non - reinforcement in operant conditioning & give eg

Answer 15

where the likelihood of the behaviour/response is decreased because the reinforcement is not presented
eg decreasing tantrums by ignoring them

Question 16

what is punishment in operant conditioning?

Answer 16

likelihood of the behaviour/response is decreased because an aversive/negative event is presented
eg decreasing speeding after receiving a penalty point

Question 17

what are examples of limitations of behaviourist learning theory?

Answer 17

• focus on extrinsic rewards and incentives
  -a lot of evidence is based on animal models
  -people’s changed behaviour can deteriorate over time
  -teacher entered model

Question 18

what is observational learning?

Answer 18

where the response is influenced by the observation of others/ watching others (called models)

Question 19

what are examples of applications of observational learning?

Answer 19

• modelling patient behaviour
• health care professionals as role models
• buddy programmes for cancer or addiction
  -medical teaching

Question 20

what is flooding?

Answer 20

the sustained exposure to a fear of yours, and eventually the fear subsides

Question 21

what is systemic desensitisation?

Answer 21

-a person is gradually exposed to an anxiety producing thought or object while performing relaxation techniques simultaneously to reduce the anxiety symptoms