Learning Flashcards
Who proposed classical conditioning?
Pavlov
Explain classical conditioning
-2 stimuli repeatedly used together causing one to associate with another -unconditioned stimulus triggers unconditioned response -neutral stimuli paired with UCS = leads to CS -overtime = conditioned response
What is stimulus generalization?
responding to a stimuli which is similar to the CS -generalizing all stimuli together
What is spontaneous recovery?
a previously conditioned response that reoccurs after extinction
What is extinction?
UCS and CS not linked for a while -link becomes extinct
What were the UCS, UCR, NS, CS & CR in Pavlov’s study?
UCS: dog food UCR: salivation NS: bell ringing CS: NS paired with UCS CR: salivation when bell rings
What were the aims of Pavlov’s study?
explaining the role of conditioned reflexes in the eating behavior of dogs
-explaining how salivation becomes associated with new stimuli
What was the procedure of Pavlov’s study?
-DV: saliva measured by volume in canula, cut into dog’s cheek
-soundproof chamber to minimize effects of EV’s -paired NS and UCS around 20 times
-variations investigated extinction + spontaneous recovery
What were the findings of Pavlov’s study?
-NS didn’t initially elicit salivation response -after pairing, NS = salivation after a few seconds -one trial: salivation 9 secs after sound, 45 drops -only if dog alert + undistracted
What were the conclusions of Pavlov’s study?
link likely to be made in brain between UCS and NS -dog can learn to salivate at bell so it is prepared to eat food when presented
What was a strength of Pavlov’s study?
-some good experimental controls -reduced impact of EV’s = enhanced internal validity -soundproof chamber = reduce effect of external sounds -external collection of saliva = prevents loss of saliva -response to NS measured before pairing
What was an opposing argument of Pavlov’s study?
-can’t be generalized to humans (conducted on dogs) -humans have structurally different brains, may respond differently -greater complex cognitive processing HOWEVER -Little Albert study shows that classical conditioning also occurs in humans
What was an application of Pavlov’s study?
eating problems (e.g. obesity) -overweight children have acquired strong associations between cues that predict arrival of food, overeating follows exposure to these cues -significance in developing therapies such as systemic desensitization
What is operant conditioning?
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by reinforcement or diminished if followed by punishment
Who studied operant conditioning?
B.F. Skinner
Describe what the Skinner box consist of
How did Skinner use the skinner box to operantly condition rats?
everytime a rat pressed the lever, a food pellet fell into the food dispenser (positive reinforcement), quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box
rat was also subjected to an uncomfortable electrical current, as they moved around the cage, the rat hit the lever, which immediately switched off the electrical current (negative reinforcement) rats quickly learned to go straight to the lever after a few times of being put in the box.
What is positive reinforcement?
addition of a pleasant stimulus
What is negative reinforcement?
removal of unpleasant stimulus
What is positive punishment?
addition of unpleasant stimulus
What is negative punishment?
removal of a pleasant stimulus
What is the difference between primary and secondary reinforcers?
PRIMARY: -biological significance (food, drink, shelter, sex) SECONDARY: -stimulus associated with primary (money - can buy food)
Evaluate a strength operant conditioning
many studies on both animals and humans -studies consistently show that behavior can be modified by reinforcement or punishment -modern brain studies support
Evaluate an opposing argument operant conditioning
-incomplete explanation of learning -only explains existing behavior, not where it originates -can’t account for behaviors never performed before
Evaluate an application operant conditioning
education and childcare -systems of reinforcement used in range of places -e.g. parents using star charts or food treats to reinforce good behavior
What is continuous reinforcement?
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
what is partial reinforcement?
reinforcing a response only part of the time -slower acquisition of a response but greater resistance to extinction
what are fixed-ratio schedules?
-schedule that reinforces response only after specific number of responses -E.g. every 5 pieces of homework, give child cookie
what are variable-ratio schedules?
schedule that reinforces response after unpredictable number of responses
what are fixed-interval schedules?
-only after specified time has elapses -e.g. giving child cookie after 2 hours of homework
what are variable-interval schedules?
unpredictable time intervals -e.g. pop quizzes
What are the 4 types of partial reinforcement?
fixed ratio -variable ratio -fixed interval -variable interval
Evaluate a strength of reinforcement schedules.
studies on both animals and humans -Latham + Dossett: mountain beaver trappers respond better to variable ratio pay -evidence supporting properties of partial reinforcement in both human + non-human animal learning
Evaluate an opposing argument of reinforcement schedules.
-fails to take account of intrinsic motivation (enjoyment/self-motivation) -humans motivated by range of factors -only considers extrinsic motivation (someone else giving the reward/punishment)
Evaluate an application of reinforcement schedules.
treating inappropriate behavior -behavior modification systems = treat range of mental health problems -practical benefit to clients
What does social learning theory say?
learning through observation and imitation -watching and copying other people (role model) -learning of social factors in the environment
Who studied social learning theory?
Bandura
what are the 4 stages of social learning theory?
1: attention (to model) 2: retention (remembering model’s behavior) 3: reproduction (having the skills for imitation) 4: motivation (e.g. reward)
what is vicarious reinforcement and punishment?
-consequences of other peoples’ actions -seeing someone else being rewarded/punished
What are the 3 stages of Bandura et al.’s bobo doll study (1961)?
1: child placed in room with doll and aggressive or non aggressive model 2: child shown a playroom but then told they can’t use it, triggers mild aggression 3: child taken to play room with toys (+bobo doll), observed for 20 mins
What were the aims of Bandura et al.’s study?
investigate effect of aggressive role models -investigate gender differences
What was the procedure of Bandura et al.’s study?
-matched pairs design
-36 boys, 36 girls, ages 3-6 -aggression ratings determined beforehand
-aggression and non-aggression groups
-control group (no model present)
-after, behavior categorized: imitative, partially imitative, non-imitative
What were the findings of Bandura et al.’s study?
-aggression group: completely/partially imitative
-non-agression and control groups: 70% no aggression, less for other 30%
-boys more likely if male model
-boys more likely to be physical instead of verbal (compared to girls)
What were the conclusions of Bandura et al.’s study?
social behavior can be acquired by imitation of models -more likely when model is same gender