Learning

Question 1

Mechanisms of classical conditioning

Answer 1

Neutral stimuli (NS): elicits no natural response
Unconditioned stimuli (UCS): elicits natural automatic response
Conditioned stimuli (CS): repeated pairing of NS and UCS causes them to be associated
Unconditioned response (UR): response elicited from UCS
Conditioned response (CR): response elicited from conditioned stimulus

Question 2

Little Albert

Answer 2

Classical conditioning study on a baby, conditioning the baby to fear white rats by associating them with a loud noise
UCS = loud noise
UCR = fear
CS = white rats

Question 3

Mechanisms of operant conditioning

Answer 3

Thorndike’s law of effect: behaviors that are followed by a reward will be repeated, followed by a punishment will not
Reinforcement: results in behavior increase
Punishment: results in behavior decrease
Positive: adds something to situation
Negative: takes something away from situation

Question 4

Schedules of reinforcement

Answer 4

Ratio: a certain number of responses leads to consequence, results in faster number of responses
Interval: certain amount of time leads to consequence, results in slower number of responses
Fixed: set time/number of responses triggers a consequence, more consistent pattern of response
Variable: time/number of responses that triggers a consequence varies, less consistent pattern of responses

Question 5

CC vs OC

Answer 5

Behavior base:
CC UCR is automatic/reflexive
OC is less automatic, have to think about it more
Consequence:
CC consequence is built into UCS
OC consequence is based on reaction to behavior
Culture:
CC is not influenced by culture
OC is influenced by culture

Question 6

Types of non associative learning

Answer 6

Habituation: learn to stop responding to a stimulus after it is no longer relevant (get used to the stimulus)
Sensitization: increased response to a stimulus because it is brought to you attention or is increasingly relevant

Question 7

Types of observational learning

Answer 7

Modeling: teacher displays skill for purpose of learner to learn
Imitation: teacher displays skill without intent for learner to learn, but learner still learns
Restriction of behavior: learning not to do something by watching someone else
Implicit learning: subconscious observational learning

Question 8

Requirements of observational learning

Answer 8

Attention, retention, reproduction, motivation

Question 9

Premack principle

Answer 9

preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less preferred

Question 10

Partial reinforcement:

Answer 10

behavior is reinforced in some environments but not in others, can lead to confusion in learner

Question 11

Primary vs secondary reinforcer

Answer 11

Primary = natural human need
Secondary = thing we learn to want

Question 12

Shaping

Answer 12

want to teach something complex, must slowly shape behavior closer and closer to end goal

Question 13

Token economies:

Answer 13

tokens/currency that has value to trade for better things

Question 14

Deconditioning:

Answer 14

Unpairing two stimuli

Question 15

Evaluative conditioning:

Answer 15

when evaluation of a thing changes after repeated pairing with other stimulus

Question 16

Generalization gradient:

Answer 16

the more similar two things are to each other, the more likely generalization is to occur

Question 17

Stimulus-organism-response (SOR):

Answer 17

must understand organisms perception of stimulus to understand organism response

Question 18

Instinctive drift

Answer 18

Over time, instincts interfere with learned behavior, causing unlearning

Question 19

Diffusion chain:

Answer 19

process of an expert teaching a novice who them becomes an expert who teaches the skill to a novice and so on

Question 20

Acquisition:

Answer 20

time period where learning occurs (when NS is paired with UCS)

Question 21

Extinction:

Answer 21

when organism stops responding to CS because it is no longer associated with UCS (still considered a type of learning)

Question 22

Spontaneous recovery:

Answer 22

random resurgence of CR, post extinction, without a relearning period

Question 23

Generalization vs discrimination

Answer 23

Generalization: responding to unpaired stimulus as if it were conditioned stimulus
Discrimination: responding to unpaired stimulus appropriately

Question 24

Taste aversion:

Answer 24

aversion to food you once got sick to (type of CC)

Question 25

Renewal effect

Answer 25

extinction happened in an environment, but CR responds in new environment (example of spontaneous recovery)