Learning Flashcards
Definition of learning
Relatively permanent change in the behaviour thoughts or feelings of an organism as a result of experience. This allows the organism to remain flexible and adapt to an ever changing environment
The behaviourist approach in relation to learning
It explores over to behavioural changes focusing on relationships between the stimulus and the response
The cognitive approach in relation to learning
Discusses the role of Covert mechanisms whilst recognising they are not directly observable
there is a greater focus on human participants
thoughts motivations attitudes beliefs are all viewed as important
Looked as information processing
There was a great interest in looking at learning of complex information
What is habituation
It is the simplest form of learning
There is first and orientation response in which an individual will locate normal unsuspected objects such as a loud noise and after repeated exposure there will be a decline in the response
Use of classical conditioning in adverts and government campaigns
Advertisements aim to make the customer associate their product with something that is attractive to them such as an attractive person
Government campaigns of news for you conditioning to try and decrease negative behaviour such as drink-driving and cigarettes by associating them with ill-health or death
Watson and Rayner (1920)
The little Albert study in which they induced a fear of a white rat by making Albert associate it with a loud noise this is an example of fear conditioning
What is biological preparedness in relation to learning
This is the idea that somethings are easier to learn than others because we are biologically prepared to learn them for example Reese is monkeys have been shown to be predisposed to fear snakes
What are primary reinforcement in relation to learning
These are stimuli that are naturally rewarding such as food water and sex
What is secondary reinforcement in relation to learning
These are stimuli that must be associated with primary reinforcers in order to be seen as rewarding for example money buys food and therefore is good
What is the ratio schedule of reinforcement in relation to learning
The reward will be received after a certain number of incidences of the target behaviour
What is an individual schedule of reinforcement in relation to learning
The reward will be received after a certain amount of time
What is a fixed schedule of reinforcement in relation to learning
This is where an award is given every N responses or secondswhich stays the same each time this produces a higher response rate than variable scheduleshowever it is less resistant to extinction
What are variable schedules of reinforcement in relation to learning
Instead of being specific in giving the reward after a number of responses or time passed it instead is the average amount of time or responses so therefore is that’s predictable it has a lower response rate than a fixed schedule of reinforcement however it is more resistant to extinction
