Learning Flashcards
What is spontaneous recovery?
After extinction, in the presence of the conditioned stimulus, the conditioned response reappears.
What is generalisation?
Producing a conditioned response to a stimulus which is similar to the conditioned stimulus
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
Evaluate token economy
+ good behaviour easier to reinforce
- can become dependent, so when token economy stops, good behaviour stops
What is operant conditioning?
Learning through reinforcements or punishment
Describe Thorndike’s law of effect
If a behaviour is followed by a pleasurable experience (e.g food) the behaviour is more likely to be repeated. However when followed by something less pleasurable, it will be less likely to repeat the behaviour.
What is systematic desentisation?
When the client is taught relaxation techniques and a hierarchy of fear is created. They then work through this and only move up the hierarchy when each stage is completed.
Evaluate systematic desensitisation?
+ few ethical concerns
+ more suitable for children
+ treats specific phobias
- takes a long time, client may not feel as if they are progressing
What is extinction?
When the conditioned stimulus no longer produces the conditioned response
Evaluate flooding
+ quicker than systematic desensitisation
+ most successful
+ quick, cheap
- patient has to be healthy in order to cope
- informed consent must be given
- not for children
Evaluate aversion therapy
+ can work
- physical strain on patient
- unethical
- success rates are mixed
- must give informed consent
What is learning?
A relatively permanent change in behaviour due to experience
What is token economy?
When someone is rewarded for appropriate behaviour with tokens which can be exchanged for privileges and other rewards. This promotes good behaviour while ignoring bad behaviour.
What is the difference between negative reinforcement and punishment?
Although they both make behaviour less likely to happen, punishment does not show the right behaviour.
What is flooding?
Patient is exposed to phobia straight away, which causes extreme levels of fear. These soon stop as the body cannot sustain high levels of arousal for long. Therefore the association between the stimulus and the fear is broken.
