Learning Flashcards
Classical conditioning
Learning to associate a reflex with new stimulus
Unconditioned stimulus
A new stimulus presented along side the unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
A new stimulus presented alongside unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
The reflex response to an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
The response that is learnt and now occurs when conditioned stimulus is presented alone
Extinction
A conditioned response dies out
Spontaneous recovery
A conditioned response that has disappeared, suddenly appears again
Generalisation
Conditioned response is produced when similar stimulus to original conditioned stimulus is presented
Discrimination
Conditioned response is only produced when a specific stimulus is presented
Operant conditioning
Learning that takes place because of consequences of behaviour
Law of effect
Behaviours followed by a positive consequence (reward) are likely to be repeated
Punishment
A stimulus that weakens behaviour because it is unpleasant and we try to avoid it
Reinforcement
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated
Positive reinforcement
A pleasant consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of behaviour being repeated
Negative reinforcement
An unpleasant experience is removed after a behaviour/action is made, increasing likelihood of behaviour being repeated
Behaviour shaping
Involves changing behaviour in small steps using reinforcement
Phobia
A persistent and irrational fear of an object/activity/situation
The typical symptoms: intense feelings of fear, anxiety to avoid object/activity/situation
Flooding
Treatment for phobias, involved immediate exposure of person to feared object/activity/event until there’s no fear response
Systematic desensitisation
Treatment for phobias, person taught to relax and feared object/activity/event is exposed gradually
Hierarchy of fears
Series of feared events ranked from least frightened to most frightening
Aversion therapy
Treatment for addictions such as drug and alcohol dependency which makes the addict have an extremely negative reaction to addictive substance
Primary reinforcer
Reward such as food/water that the person or animal needs to survive
Secondary reinforcer
Reward like money/token that animal or person can exchange for primary reinforcer
Learning
A relatively permanent change in behaviour due to experience
