Learning Flashcards
First psychology textbook
Thorndike
Herman Ebbinghaus
learning curve. When learning something new, the rate of learning changes over time. Significant initial learning slows to lower rate later
M.E. Olds
Studied electrical stimulation of pleasure centers in brain caused animals to perform behaviors to receive the stimulation. Supports drive reduction theory
Law of effect
Thorndike’s precursor to operant conditioning. People do what rewards them and stop doing what doesn’t
Kurt Lewin
Theory of association–before behariovirism. Grouping things together based on the fact that they occur together in time and space (rewards with cues)
John Watson
founder of the school of behaviorism. Objective and observable elements are all that’s relevant to psych
B.F.Skinner
1st experiments to prove Thorndike and Watson–Skinner box
Continuous reinforcement schedule
every correct response met with reward. Quickest path to learning but fragile to extinction
Partial reinforcement schedule
not all correct responses reinforced–either time (interval) or number (ratio) based
Fixed ratio
partial reinforcement schedule based on a fixed number of correct responses (Every 6th response). Prone to extinction because known when to expect reward
Variable ratio
partial reinforcement schedule based on a varying number of responses (slot machines). Very strong learning
Fixed interval
partial reinforcement schedule based on set amount of time. First correct response after set time is rewarded
Variable interval
partial reinforcement schedule based on varying amounts of time. Extremely unpredictable
Fritz Heider’s balance theory
homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state
Osgood & Tannenbaum congruity theory
homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state
Leon Festinger
cognitive dissonance–homeostasis theory–trying to get to stable psychology or physiological state
Drive reduction theories
people are motivated by desire to reduce drives (drive for hunger, sex, thirst, etc)
Clark Hull
performance = drive X habit, 1st motivated by drive, then by memory of old successful habits. Will do what has worked before
Edward Tolman
Performance = expectation X value, “expectancy value theory”. motivated by goals that we might actually meet
Premack principle
We motivate ourselves to do what we don’t want to do by rewarding ourselves
Donald Hebb
arousal is necessary and beneficial to performance (led to Yerkes Dodson performance curve)
overshadowing
classical conditioning principle that we can’t infer a relationship when a more prominent stimulus is present
Albert Bandura
social learning theory; modeling; Bobo doll study
John Garcia, “Garcia effect”
we are primed to make certain connections, i.e. nausea and food
Murray & McCelland
Stuidied possibility that people are motivated by a need for achievement (nAch).
John Atkinson
theory of motivation in which people who set realistic goals with medium risk feel pride and want to succeed more than they fear failure. but they’re unlikely to set unrealistic goals
Neil Miller
approach-avoidance conflict: state in which one feels that a certain goal has pros and cons. When far from the goal, focus on pros; when closer, focus on cons
Positive transfer/negative transfer
previous learning that makes it easier or more difficult to learn another task later
