Learning

Question 1

Explain contiguity.

Answer 1

Refers to events that occur close together in time. For effective classical conditioning the NS should be presented half a second before the US. The two are said to be contiguous to one another.

Question 2

Explain contingency.

Answer 2

Refers to things being dependent on one another. The performance phase is contingent on a successful acquisition phase.

Question 3

What are the different phases of classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Acquisition phase - the phase where the NS and US are paired over a number of trials
Performance phase - when CS elicits CR
Extinction phase - When CR minimises over time (CS and CR only)
Spontaneous Recovery - return of CR after rest period of extinction

Question 4

Treatments of Phobias

Answer 4

• CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy)

- systematic desensitisation

Question 5

What is a phobia?

Answer 5

An unnaturally intense fear of an object not really warranting of such fear. Can be intensely debilitating and result in person’s total incapacitation.

Question 6

What is the Garcia Effect?

Answer 6

Some associations occur easier than others. Eg. poison and taste, rather than poison and electric shock

Question 7

Describe systematic desensitisation

Answer 7

1. patient taught deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques
2. A graded stimulus hierarchy is developed.
3. Patient is then gradually exposed to feared object using the hierarchy and encouraged to use relaxation techniques
   The aim is to replace the conditioned fear response with relaxed response (counter conditioning)

Question 8

Describe systematic desensitisation

Answer 8

1. patient taught deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques
2. A graded stimulus hierarchy is developed.
3. Patient is then gradually exposed to feared object using the hierarchy and encouraged to use relaxation techniques
   The aim is to replace the conditioned fear response with relaxed response (counter conditioning)

Question 9

Describe cognitive behaviour therapy

Answer 9

• aims to reduce and eventually remove the dysfunctional thoughts leading to phobia
• addresses change in behaviour so they have positive experiences or consequences
• treatments usually consist of helping patients identify faulty cognitions
• work with therapist to reduce proportion of faulty cognitions
• helps to relieve intensity of emotional responses

Question 10

Describe stimulus generalisation

Answer 10

Tendency for conditioned stimulus to evoke similar responses after response has been conditioned.
When other stimuli are associated with conditioned stimulus and evokes a similar response.

Question 11

Describe stimulus discrimination

Answer 11

When similar stimuli do not evoke similar response.

The ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli.

Question 12

Difference between primary and secondary reinforcers.

Answer 12

primary - require no prior learning (food, water, sex, pain avoidance)
secondary - learnt via classical conditioning (money, praise, etc.)

Question 13

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 13

Involves giving a stimulus that is pleasant to strengthen a response, to increase frequency of a behaviour.

Question 14

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 14

Involves the removal of an aversive or unpleasant stimulus in order to strengthen a response or increase frequency of a behaviour.

Question 15

What is punishment?

Answer 15

Involves giving a stimulus that is aversive or unpleasant in order to reduce frequency of a behaviour.
or
Involves taking away a pleasant stimulus in order to reduce frequency of a behaviour.

Question 16

Define the schedules of reinforcement.

Answer 16

Fixed-ratio
- reinforcement after fixed number of responses (piecework)
Variable-ratio
- reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses (gambling, fishing, v addictive)
Fixed-interval
- reinforcement after a fixed period of time (a break for working)
Variable-interval
- reinforcement after unpredictable time (pop quiz)
Continuous
- reinforcement given every time desired response occurs
- fixed ratio of 1

Question 17

Components of effective punishment

Answer 17

• swift
• consistent
• appropriately aversive

Question 18

Problems with punishment

Answer 18

• may be imitated
• may lead to fear of punisher
• may be supressed

Question 19

Steps of Observational Learning

Answer 19

Attention
- must be paying attention to model
Retention
- forming mental representation of what's been observed
Reproduction
- ability to reproduce observed behaviour 
Motivation-Reinforcement
- a reason to copy behaviour

Question 20

External Reinforcement

Answer 20

refers to rewards learner receives for copying behaviour

Question 21

Vicarious Reinforcement

Answer 21

refers to rewards observer sees model receiving

Question 22

Steps of Behaviour Modification

Answer 22

1. discrimination stimulus (remove distractions)
2. shape through successive approximations (set a baseline, then slowly increase)
3. positive reinforcement; vary to prevent boredom
4. slowly increase
5. vary reward and set up a contingency contract (accountability)

Question 23

Behaviour Therapies

Answer 23

• CBT
• systematic desensitisation
• aversion therapy
• flooding (unethical)