Learning Flashcards

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0
Q

What are the applications of classical conditioning?

A

Learned immune responses

Phobias

Predator control

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1
Q

What are the definitions of learning?

A

1) the process through which experience modifies pre-existing behaviour and understanding
2) relatively persistent change in behaviour as a result of experience
3) an individuals adaptation to environmental events

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2
Q

What is Operant conditioning?

A
  • learning process by which the consequence of a response affects the likelihood that the response will occur in the future
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3
Q

What is an instrumental response?

A

Functions like an instrument or tool to make a change in the environment

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4
Q

What is an operant response?

A

Operates in the world to produce some effect

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5
Q

What is an operant?

A

Any behavioural act that has some effect on the environment

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6
Q

What is a discriminative stimulus?

A

Stimulus that signals whether reinforcement is available if a certain response is made

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7
Q

Schedules of partial reinforcement - Ratio

A

Reinforcement after a certain number of responses

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8
Q

Schedules of partial reinforcement - Interval

A

Reinforcement after a certain number of seconds

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9
Q

Schedules of partial reinforcement - Fixed

A

Reinforcement after X amount

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10
Q

Schedules of partial reinforcement - Variable

A

Reinforcement after x amount on average

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11
Q

What is reinforcement?

A

Any process that increases the likelihood that a particular response will occur

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12
Q

What is punishment?

A

Any process that decreases the likelihood that a particular response will occur

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13
Q

Describe positive / negative with regards to operant conditioning

A

Positive - stimulus is presented

Negative - stimulus is removed

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14
Q

What is latent learning? (Tolman)

A

Learning that is not immediately demonstrated in behaviour

Manifests later when a suitable motivation and circumstances appear

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15
Q

What are cognitive maps? (Tolman)

A

Mental representations of the world

An internal perceptual representation of external environment features and landmarks

Focus more on the details which are more important to you

16
Q

What is UCS / US?

A

Unconditional stimulus

A stimulus that elicits a reflexive / innate response with no conditioning

17
Q

What is UCR / UR?

A

Unconditioned response

The innate response that occurs from a stimulus with no conditioning

18
Q

What is the CS?

A

Conditioned stimulus

A stimulus that through an association with the US comes to elicit a conditioned response similar to the original US

19
Q

What is the CR?

A

Conditioned response

A response elicited by the conditioned stimulus

20
Q

What is acquisition?

A

The period during which a response is being learned

The CS has to be paired multiple times with the UCS in order to establish a strong CR

CR improves also when the intensity of the UCS increases
(Pavlov - giving more food to the dogs)

If the CS is aversive (electric shock), the conditioning may only need one CS-UCS pairing

21
Q

What is generalisation?

A

When a CR has been acquired, the organism often responds not only to the original CS but also to stimuli that are similar to it

22
Q

What is discrimination?

A

When the CR occurs to one stimulus but not to others

23
Q

What is extinction?

A

When the CR is weakened and eventually disappears after the UCS has been repeatedly presented in the absence of the CS

24
Q

Name research examples of classical conditioning

A

Pavlov

Watson & Raynor

McGrath et al

25
Q

Explain Thorndike’s work into operant conditioning

A
  • wanted to explore how animals learnt to solve problem
  • puzzle boxes - cats had to step on levers to get out
  • behaviour improved slowly over trial & error = instrumental learning as the behaviour functioned like an instrument to make a change in the environment
  • law of effect developed - response followed by a satisfying consequence will be more likely to occur & vice versa for annoying consequences
26
Q

Describe Skinner’s work into operant conditioning

A
  • expansion of Thorndike’s work
  • Skinner boxes - allowed him to study OC experimentally
  • rats had to press levers to receive a food pellet
  • 2 consequences for behaviour - reinforcement & punishment
27
Q

What is operant extinction?

A

The weakening & eventual disappearance of a response because it is no longer reinforced

Low resistance = reinforced response stop quickly

High resistance = responses occur 100’s or 1000’s of times afterwards

28
Q

Operant conditioning - what is shaping?

A

Involves reinforcing successive approximations towards a final response

29
Q

Operant conditioning - what is chaining?

A

When you develop a series or chain of responses by reinforcing each response with the opportunity to perform the next response

30
Q

What are primary reinforcers?

A

Stimuli such as food & water that an organism naturally finds reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs

31
Q

What are secondary reinforcers?

A

Stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through their associations with primary reinforcers

For example, money is a conditioned reinforcer