Learning

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice or study

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

Classical conditioning is the learning by association through two unrelated stimuli.

Question 3

What study did Pavlov develop?

Answer 3

Pavlov conducted trials in which he presented two stimuli to the dog, one being the sound of a bell and the other being meat. Each time the dog would respond by salivating.

Question 4

What does UCS and CS mean?

Answer 4

Unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus

Question 5

What does UCR and CR mean?

Answer 5

Unconditioned response and conditioned response

Question 6

What is classical conditioning advertising?

Answer 6

Classical conditioning advertising is a neutral stimulus that is paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Example: Neutral stimulus (car) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (image of sexy person)

Question 7

What are principles of classical conditioning?

Answer 7

Acquisition  
Stimulus contiguity 
Contingency 
Stimulus generalisation 
Stimulus discrimination 
Extinction 
Spontaneous recovery

Question 8

What is Stimulus generalisation?

Answer 8

In generalisation, Stimuli are generalised similarly to the original conditioned stimulus and may be a behaviour that is performed in more than one situation

Example: dog may salivate to any loud sound (bell, bang)

Question 9

What is stimulus discrimination?

Answer 9

Stimulus discrimination occurs when an organism has learned a response to a specific stimulus and does not respond in the same way to the new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.

Example: dog salivating to only the sound of a bell not just any loud sound

Question 10

What is Extinction?

Answer 10

The gradual weakening or suppression of a previously conditioned response

For example: if you have classically conditioned yourself with a fear of a dentists drill and later start working as a dental assistant, your fear would gradually diminish.

Question 11

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 11

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus

Question 12

What is stimulus contiguity?

Answer 12

The time between presentation of the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Theory states it should be no longer than half a second.

Question 13

What is contingency?

Answer 13

It is the predictability of the occurrence of one stimulus from the presence of another

For example a flash of lightning is usually followed by the sound of thunder.

Question 14

What are the psychological interventions?

Answer 14

Behaviour modification

Systematic desensitisation

Aversion therapy

Question 15

What is behaviour modification ?

Answer 15

Behaviour modification is the application of learning principles to changing behaviour. It uses operant conditioning principles such as positive reinforcement.

Question 16

What is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 16

Systematic desensitisation. Is a type of behaviour therapy using classical conditioning and is when a learned fear or phobia is gradually extinguished

Example: arachnophobia

Question 17

What is aversion therapy?

Answer 17

Is an unethical therapy using classical conditioning and uses an unpleasant stimulus that is paired with an undesirable behaviour in attempt to prevent the behaviour

For example: smoking a cigarette rapidly, feeling sick, not smoking anymore

Question 18

Factors influencing behaviour

Answer 18

Characteristics of the individual- appropriate age, gender and interest

Timing- reinforcers should be presented close in time

Question 19

Observational learning?

Answer 19

Modelling others behaviour

Question 20

Factors affecting observational learning

Answer 20

Attention, retention, reproduction and motivation

Question 21

What is learned helplessness?

Answer 21

Occurs when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an aversive stimulus that it cannot escape

For example: if a rat is locked in a box and the only way it can get out is to jump the hurdle but whenever it jumps the hurdle it is taken back to its original place, it will eventually learn to avoid the stimulus

Question 22

Schedules of reinforcement

Answer 22

Cont. reinforcement

Partial reinforcement

Fixed ratio

Fixed interval

Variable ratio

Variable interval

Question 23

What is shaping?

Answer 23

Technique of reinforcement that is used to teach new behaviours that are desired.

Question 24

What is punishment?

Answer 24

Punishment weakens a behaviour and makes it less likely to occur

Question 25

What is reinforcement?

Answer 25

Reinforcement strengthens a behaviour and makes it more likely to occur

Question 26

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 26

Operant conditioning is a behaviour in which behaviour is strengthened or weakened, depending on the natures of consequences that follow it.

Question 27

Positive reinforcement or punishment

Answer 27

The addition of a stimulus that either weakens or strengthens a behaviour

Question 28

Negative reinforcement or punishment

Answer 28

The removal of an aversive stimulus that increases or decreases the likeliness of the recurrence of a behaviour

Question 29

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 29

A innate stimulus such as food or water

Question 30

What are Secondary reinforcers?

Answer 30

A stimulus that is associated with a primary reinforcer such as money that can be used to buy food