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Psychology 104 > Learning > Flashcards

Learning Flashcards

1
Q

Habituation

A

A general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding
* Maybe the simpleest form of learning

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2
Q

Sensitization

A

When presentaation of a stimulus leads to an increased response to a later stimulus

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3
Q

Classical Conditioning

A

A types of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response
* Ie. Pavlov’s dogs
* Learning via association with stimuli

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4
Q

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A

Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism
* Ie. Food

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5
Q

Unconditioned response (UR)

A

A reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus.

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6
Q

Aquisition

Conditioning

A

The phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together

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7
Q

Conditioned Stimulus

A

A previously neutral stimulus that produces a reliable response in an organism after being paired with a US (unconditioned stimulus)

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8
Q

Conditioned Response

A

A reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus

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9
Q

Second-Order Conditioning

A

A type of learning in which a CS is paired with a stimulus that became associated with the US in an earlier procedure

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10
Q

Respondent Extinction

Conditioning

A

The gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (US)

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11
Q

Spontaneous Recovery

Conditioning

A

The tendency of a learned behaviour to recover from extinction after a rest period

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12
Q

Respondant/Stimulus Generalization

A

The CR is observed even though the CS is slightly different from the CS used during acquisition

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13
Q

Respondent Discrimination

Conditioning

A

The capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli

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14
Q

Biological Preparedness

Learning

A

A propensity for learning particular kinds of associations over other kinds

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15
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

A type of learning in which the consequences of an organism’s behaviour determine whether it will repeat that behaviour in the future

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16
Q

Operant vs Classical Conditioning

A

Operant - Reaction to Consequences (good or bad), stimulus follows behaviour

Classical - Association with other stimuli, stimulus preceds behaviour

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17
Q

Operant Behaviour

A

Behaviour that an organism performs that has some impact on the environment.

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18
Q

Primary vs Secondary reinforcers

Learning

A

Primary reinforcers help satisfy biological needs or desires

Secondary reinforcers derive their effectiveness from their associations with primary reinforcers through classical conditioning

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19
Q

Fixed-interval (FI) Schedule

A

Reinforcers are presented at fixed time periods, provided that the appropriate response is made

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20
Q

Varible-interval (VI) Schedule

A

A behaviour is reinforced on the basis of an average time that has expired since the last reinforcement

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21
Q

Fixed-Ratio (FR) Schedule

A

Reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been made

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22
Q

Variable-Ratio (VR) Schedule

A

The delivery of reinforcement is based on a particular average number of responses, although the ratio of responses to reinforcements is variable

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23
Q

Intermittent Reinforcement

A

Only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement

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24
Q

Intermittent Reinforcement Effect

A

The fact that operant behaviours that are maintained under intermittent reinforcement schedules resist extinction better than those maintained under continuous reinforcement

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25
Shaping | Learning
Learning that results from the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behaviour
26
Cognitive Map | Learning
a mental representation of the physical features of the environment.
27
Observational Learning
A process in which an organism learns by watching the actions of others
28
Diffusion Chain | Learning
A process in which individuals initially learn a behaviour by observing another individual perform that behaviour, and then become models from which other individuals learn the behaviour
29
Mirror Neurons
A type of cell found in the brains of primates (including humans). They fire when an animal performs an action, as when a monkey reaches for a food item. More important, however, mirror neurons also fire when an animal watches someone else perform the same specific task
30
Implicit Learning
Learning that takes place largely independent of awareness of both the process and the products of information acquisition
31
Interleaved Practice
A practice schedule that mixes different kinds of problems or materials within a single study session
32
Wundt vs Watson | Learning and Behaviour
**Wundt** - Psychology is the science of consciousness **Watson** - Psychology is the science of behaviour (behaviourism)
33
Behaviourism
Taking the “Psyche” out of Psychology * Assumes behaviour can be studied for its own sake * Assumes that the causes of behaviour (a natural event) only include natural phenomena * Views behaviour as a function of evolved and environmental forces * Pragmatic argument about how a science of behaviour should be conducted * They don't reject the existence of consciousness, they just say that you can't measure it
34
Is Behaviour Nature or Nurture?
BOTH Behaviour = f(organism, Environment) Organism - genetics, psychology, prior learning Environment - current environmental stimuli being encountered
35
Phylogenetic Behaviour
"Evolved" or Innate Behaviour * Includes reflexes, fixed action patterns ("instincts"), and general behaviour traits
36
Reflexes
A relationship between a specific event and simple response to that event * Found in all members of the species * Highly stereotypic (occur pretty reliably the same way each time) Ex * Pupillary reflex * Rooting reflex * Suckling reflex * Salivary reflex * Palmar grasp reflex * Ect Not all are useful * Peanut allergies * Seizures caused by flashing lights
37
What are the primary Laws of the reflex?
1. Law of Threshold * There is a point (called the threshold) below which no response is elicited and about a response always occurs 2. Law of Intensity-Magnitude * Increases in stimulus intensity (or magnitude), also increase the intensity of the response * Habituation 3. Law of Latency * The more intense a stimulus ins, the fast the response is elicited
38
Fixed action patterns
A series of related acts found in (nearly) all members of a species * “Instinctive behaviour” * Species-specific behaviour * Modal Action pattern Occurs when the appropriate releaser stimulus is present * Ex. When babies open their mouths and the parents feed them in response to that Environment “modifies” behaviour to some effect
39
General Behaviour traits
Any **general** behavioural tendency that is strongly influenced by genes * May include temperment * Ex. Introversion, general anxiety, activity level, aggressiveness, drug abuse… Evidence * Selective breeding * You can selectively breed animals for personality traits (dog domestication) * Gene knockout * Twin studies
40
What are the limits of natural selection | Psychology
Its too slow for sudden change in the environment Evolutionary traits that were useful, but can become detrimental to survival * Ex. Human craving for salt and sugar Solution? Learning
41
Learning
A change in behaviour due to the environment Multiples measurable dimensions which could change * Frequency * Intensity * Rate/Speed * Form/topography
42
Types of Learning
* Habituation * Respondent (classical/pavlovian) Conditioning * Operant conditioning
43
Why can't we measure learning by nervous system change?
Learning is not defined by nervous system change because we don't know enough about the brain to conclusively say whether a change in brain structure is the cause of behaviour change
44
Are all changes of behaviour learning?
No Change of behaviour IS learning But not all changes of behaviour are defined as learning * Drugs * Injury * Disease
45
Probe Trial | Classical Conditioning
Present the CS alone (no US) Test trial In general, more exposure = greater conditional responding Early exposure produces more learning than later exposure Non linear Conditional Responding is “asymptomatic”
46
Does all conditioning/learning occur at the same rate?
Conditioning/Learning can occur at different rates * Taste aversion can occur after only 1 exposure * Salivation requires numerous exposures
47
Delayed Conditioning | Classical Conditioning
CS and US overlap partially * The CS begins first * Generally the most effective method when CS-US interval is short (0.4-1 sec) * Common in the real world Ex. Blink conditioning
48
Trace Conditioning | Classical Conditinoing
The CS begins and ends before the US * The Delay is usually pretty short * Generally, the longer the delay, the weaker the response Ex. Rattlesnake
49
Stimulus Conditioning | Classical Conditioning
The CS and US begin and end at the same time * Less common in the real world
50
Backwards conditioning | Classical Conditioning
The US before the CS * Not very effective * Not common in the real world
51
Is extinction forgetting? | Learning
No, its new learning
52
Aversion Therapy
A therapy in which a stimulus is contingently paired with noxious (adverse) stimulus * Eg. Disulfiram (antabuse) This is used in alcohol treatment * They are given a drug that makes them violently sick if they have it * Often this treatment is in direct combat with years of learned experience with alcohol
53
Edward Thorndyke
How is behaviour learned? Cats in boxes with latches * Didn’t believe the cats were getting insight * Instead the cats were learning via trial and error If an action brings a reward, the action becomes stamped into the mind * “Law of effect” * Not typically used today
54
BF Skinner
Built on Thorndyke's ideas Invented the operant conditioning chamber * The boxes they put animals in to reward a desired behaviour * Typically awarded with food * Act as a controlled environment * The more control the better * Reinforcement
55
What are the effects of reinforcing consequences
* Increase frequency * Increase duration * Increase intensity * Increase in quickness * Increase in variability
56
Positive Reinforcement
Add a stimulus * A positive stimulus is added when the desired behaviour occurs
57
Negative Reinforcement
Remove a stimulus * A constant negative stimulus is removed when the desired response occurs
58
Reinforcer | Learning
Any event or stimulus that follows an operant response and increases or maintains its future
59
Consequences of using punishment improperly | Learning (Psychology)
**There are many drawbacks to using punishment improperly** * Fosters undesirable emotional responses * Aggression * This is not just directed at the punisher * Fear and anxiety response * Crying * Apathy and/or depression * Does not teach the “correct” behaviour * Often increases subversive practices to escape punishment * Imitation of the punisher * They learn to see punishment as an acceptable behaviour to use on others
60
Discriminative stimulus | Operant Conditioning
A stimulus or event that sets the occasion for reinforcement * Creates conditions for the reward
61
Discrimination | Operant Conditioning
The effect of a response being more likely to occur in the presence of the discriminative stimulus or event than its absence
62
Operant Extinction
The procedure of withholding reinforcers that maintain a behaviour
63
Spontaneous Recovery | Operant Conditoining
The tendency for extinguished behaviour to occur again in situations similar to those it had been previously reinforced after time has elapsed
64
Extinction Burst | Operant Conditioning
A short lived rapid burst in responding following the initial exposure to extinction * Also produces aggression and variability of responding
65
Does giving less reinforcement for a behaviour count as negative punishment?
Giving less reinforcement for a behaviour is not negative punishment * It's just a less effective form of positive punishment Negative punishment required the removal of a reinforcing stimulus the organism is already in possession of or has access to
66
Schedule of Reinforcement
A rule describing the delivery of reinforcement * Different schedules produce unique schedule effects * Scheduled effect - Particular pattern and rate of behaviour over time * Over the long-term effects are very predictable * May make behaviours resistant to extinction * Occurs in numerous species (including humans)
67
Shaping | Learning
Differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a target behaviour Ex. Training a rat’s lever press reinforce: * Approaches to ladder * Sniffing the ladder * Touching with paw * Full depression of the lever

Psychology 104 (10 decks)

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