Learning

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

A relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience

Question 2

Why do we learn?

Answer 2

1. Adaptation: were better able to cope with changing life circumstances
2. Promotes survival: We anticipate events in the immediate future

Question 3

How do we learn?

Answer 3

1. Habituation: tendency to become familiar with a stimulus I e esconde to its constant exposure
2. Classical conditioning: Associations between two stimuli that occurs in sequence
3. Operant conditioning: Association between our behavior and it’s consequences
4. Observational learning: Observing and imitating others

Question 4

What are the principles of classical conditioning?

Answer 4

1. Unconditioned stimulus: Naturally and automatically triggers an unconditioned response
2. Unconditioned response: Unlearned, naturally occuring response to an unconditioned stimulus
3. Conditioned stimulus: Triggers a conditioned response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus
4. Conditioned response: Learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

Question 5

What are the processes of classical conditioning?

Answer 5

1. Acquisition stage: Ehere one links an unconditioned response to an unconditioned stimulus
   - forward conditioning: conditioned stimulus is presented immediately after unconditioned stimulus, quickest and most effective
   - Simultaneous conditioning: conditioned stimulus is presented at the same time as unconditioned stimulus, slower less effective
   - Backwards conditioning: conditioned stimulus is presented before unconditioned response, often no meaning at all
2. Extintion stage: conditioned response is diminished if conditioned stimulus occurs repeatedly without being paired with unconditioned stimulus
3. Generalization stage: Conditioned response is triggered by similar stimului
4. Discrimination stage: learned ability to distinguish between conditioned stimuli and stimuli that don’t trigger unconditioned response

Question 6

Explain Oavlovs dog experiments

Answer 6

1. Food in mouth: salivation
2. Bowl: salivation
3. Feeder: salivation
4. Approaching feeder: salivation
5. Food + bell = salivation

Food: unconditioned stimulus
Salivation: unconditioned response
Bell: conditioned stimulus
Salivation: conditioned response

Question 7

Explain John Watsons edperiment

Answer 7

1. Little Albert + metal pipes = scared
2. Little Albert + Rabbit = not scared
3. Little Albert + Rabbit + pipes = scared
4. Little Albert + rabbit = scared
5. Little Albert + white fluff = scared

Unconditioned stimulus: metal bars
Unconditioned response: fear
Conditioned stimulus: rabbit
Conditioned response: fear

Question 8

What is a reinforcement?

Answer 8

Anything that increases the frequency of a response. It’s unique and specific to the individual

Question 9

What are the reinforcement schedules?

Answer 9

1. Continuous reinforcement: Every desired behavior is reinforced. Quick learning but very easy to extinguish
2. Intermittent reinforcement: desired behaviors get reinforced sometimes. Very effective, difficult to extinguish
3. Fixed ratio schedule: reinforcing behavior after a set number of responses
4. Variable ratio schedule: reinforcing behavior on a changing number of responses. Difficult to extinguish
5. Fixed interval schedule: reinforcing first response after a set amount of time
6. Variable interval schedule: reinforcing first repose after varying amount of time

Question 10

What is observational learning?

Answer 10

Learning without direct experience, but rather by observing and imitating others