Learning Flashcards
Definition of Learning (Psychology)
In psychology, learning refers to any relatively permanent change in behavior brought about through experience. This includes acquiring new information, attitudes, fears, skills, concepts, problem-solving methods, and personality development over a lifetime.
Key Restriction of Learning
Learning is restricted to relatively permanent behavioral changes caused by experience, not temporary changes due to biological factors like drugs, fatigue, maturation, or injury.
Two Major Types of Learning
- Classical Conditioning: Learning by association. 2. Operant Conditioning: Learning from the consequences of behavior.
Classical Conditioning Definition
A type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to elicit a reflexive response. Demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with dogs.
Pavlov’s Experiment Setup
Pavlov surgically implanted tubes in dogs’ cheeks to measure saliva. Dogs salivated at the sight of an attendant bringing food, even before food was placed in their mouths.
Apparatus Used by Pavlov
- Observation screen - Container of meat powder - Revolving drum for recording responses - Device to count saliva drops - Tube for saliva collection
Key Insight from Pavlov’s Experiment
An inborn reflexive response (salivation to food) became controlled by an arbitrary stimulus (sight of attendant), demonstrating associative learning.
Association in Classical Conditioning
Association in time of a neutral stimulus (initially not eliciting a response) with an unconditioned stimulus (naturally eliciting a response). Example: Pavlov pairing a metronome with food.
Example: Ice Cream Bell vs. Clock Chime
A child mistakes a clock chime for an ice cream truck bell, associating the sound (neutral stimulus) with ice cream (UCS), leading to hunger (CR).
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning. Example: Meat powder in Pavlov’s experiment.
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
An unlearned, innate reaction to an unconditioned stimulus. Example: Salivation in response to meat powder.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
A previously neutral stimulus that, after association with a UCS, triggers a conditioned response. Example: Metronome sound in Pavlov’s experiment.
Conditioned Response (CR)
A learned response to a conditioned stimulus, similar to the UCR. Example: Salivation in response to the metronome after conditioning.
Pavlov’s Experiment: Before Conditioning
- Neutral stimulus (metronome): No salivation. - UCS (meat powder): Naturally causes UCR (salivation).
Pavlov’s Experiment: During Conditioning
- Neutral stimulus (metronome) is paired with UCS (meat powder), leading to UCR (salivation). Repeated pairing creates association.
Pavlov’s Experiment: After Conditioning
- Neutral stimulus becomes CS (metronome), eliciting CR (salivation) without the UCS.
Counterconditioning Definition
A process to eliminate a conditioned response by pairing the CS with a new UCS that triggers a stronger, incompatible response. Example: Replacing fear with relaxation.
Mary Cover Jones’ Counterconditioning Example
A child’s fear of rabbits (CS) was reduced by pairing the rabbit with cookies (UCS). The child ate cookies (eliciting happiness) while gradually increasing exposure to the rabbit, replacing fear (CR) with a positive response.
Steps in Counterconditioning
- Introduce UCS for incompatible response first (e.g., cookies). 2. Briefly introduce CS (e.g., rabbit). 3. Gradually increase CS exposure until it no longer elicits the undesirable CR.
Role of Classical Conditioning in Phobias
Many fears (phobias) are acquired through classical conditioning. Counterconditioning can help remove these learned responses by associating the feared object with positive stimuli.
Learning as a Continuous Process
Behavior changes continually through experiences. Learning is dynamic and ongoing, shaping attitudes, skills, and personality over time.
