Learning

Question 1

O1 - Know about why and how we study learning

Answer 1

..

Question 2

O2 - Know about what makes reinforcers and punishers effective.

Answer 2

..

Question 3

O3 - Know about how stimulus control works.

Answer 3

Schedule reinforcer

• Intermittent response- Only some responses are reinforced
• Schedule of reinforcement - A specification of the relation between responding and reinforcing
• Fixed- Interval (FI) schedule: A response is reinforced when a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the last REINFORCER (30 seconds after)
• Variable-interval (VI) Schedule: A response is reinforced when a variable amount of time have elapsed since the last reinforcer.
• Omission training, or Differential-reinforcement-of-other-behaviour (DRO) Schedule: A reinforcer is delivered when a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the last RESPONSE.
• Multiple Schedule: Two or more simple schedules of reinforcement are alternately available, each signalled by a particular discriminative stimulus.
• Stimulus Control: The extent to which stimuli that precede or accompany behaviour controls the rate or probability of the behaviour.
• Discrimination: Responding differently in the presence of different stimuli.
• Compound stimuli: A discriminative stimulus made up from elements from more than one dimension

Question 4

O4 - Know about classical conditioning

Answer 4

…

Question 5

Non-associative learning

Answer 5

The change in your response caused by the repeated exposure to the same stimulus

Question 6

Habituation

Answer 6

Part of non-associative learning, the decrease in your response as you get exposed to the same stimulus repeatedly. (I.E. getting used to something good that no longer excites you as it often occurs)

Question 7

Sensitisation

Answer 7

Part of the non-associative learning. Your increase responsiveness (awareness) towards repeated stimulus. (I.e. you being sensitised by an often appearing situation that makes you so familiar to it you notice small changes)

Question 8

Associative learning

Answer 8

relating one object or event with another object or event

Question 9

Classical conditioning

Answer 9

The type of learning where a neutral (usual) stimulus becomes paired with a stimulus that elicits or draws out your responsiveness and behaviour. (I.e. when you hear a fire alarm, that triggers your bad memories about fire - instantly eliciting your fear or trauma)
A.K.A Respondent conditioning and Pavlovian conditioning
(Involuntary response) a response that only happened as it was shaped by stimulus where the responder inevitably or involuntarily response to.

Question 10

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

Answer 10

The stimulus that elicits automatic response (natural)

Question 11

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 11

The automatic response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus — that requires no prior learning. This response can vary depending on the context or situation even with the same stimulus. E.g. seeing a cheesecake that makes you drool out when you are hungry but feel sick when you are full.

Question 12

Conditioned Stimulus

Answer 12

The originally neutral stimulus that acquires significance through pairings with (US). It requires learning the response before such stimulus become significant. It is conditional as the response it elicit depends on which stimulus it is being paired to.
E.g. in Pavlov’s experiment, the tuning of forks becomes associated with the food (US) that elicits salivation for dogs. Salivation happens after the repeated tuning of fork - becoming associated with the “food”.

Question 13

Acquisition

Answer 13

The initial learning of the conditioned response (CR).

Question 14

Forward Conditioning / Trace Conditioning

Answer 14

The immediate follow of US after the CS. Occurs when the conditioned stimulus begins before the Unconditioned stimulus
eg. The tuning of fork begins before showing the food as if the conditioned stimulus is created as the symbolism of food — signalising that the food will follow.
The Trace conditioning example: the food must be presented after the tuning of the fork — cannot be shown while the fork is still tuning. Requiring the organism to remember the CS for the short interval time before being shown of the US.

Question 15

Delayed Conditioning

Answer 15

The CS occur before and during the presentation of US.

Question 16

Backward Pairing

Answer 16

Where US comes first before the CS
Where no conditioning occurs as the effect of CS no longer validate due to the US being acquired.
E.g The feeding of dog before the tuning of tone elicited no salivation as the US (primary interest of the dogs) was already acquired.

Question 17

Simultaneous Conditioning

Answer 17

The possible acquisition of conditioning during the simultaneous presentation of CS and US. Although it does not guarantee to elicit response, there is a possibility that it will depending on different context (the US was not enough to make the dog feel satisfied, or the dog was super hungry that US was not enough therefore still creating effect of CS).

Question 18

Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)

Answer 18

An emotionally charged, conditioned response elicited by a previously neutral stimulus.

Question 19

Biological Preparedness

Answer 19

A built-in readiness for certain conditioned stimuli to elicit particular conditioned response.
(Typically exists as our response to stimuli that makes us feel endangered as our natural reflex of survival).

Question 20

Counter-preparedness (contra-preparedness)

Answer 20

A built-in disinclination (inability) for certain conditioned stimuli to elicit conditioned responses.

Question 21

Law of Effect

Answer 21

If a piece of behaviour is closely followed by the favourable consequence, the probability that the behaviour will be repeated is increased.

Question 22

Operant (instrumental) Conditioning

Answer 22

Learning an association between a response and its consequences

Question 23

Operant Behaviour

Answer 23

Behaviour that is controlled by its consequences. It is emitted.
Consequences lead to a changes in voluntary behaviour
Having both reinforcer and punishment

Question 24

Reinforcer

Answer 24

An environmental event (stimulus) which increases the probability, or rate, of responses that it follows.

Question 25

Shaping, or the Method of Successive Approximations

Answer 25

Reinforcing closer and closer approximations to the desired behaviour Invented by BF Skinner

Question 26

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 26

A stimulus that increases the probability of responses that it follows because of its intrinsic biological significance, or survival value to the organism.
Something that we want for our primary need.

Question 27

Secondary (conditioned) reinforcer

Answer 27

A previously neutral stimulus which has acquired its reinforcing effect because it had been repeatedly paired with a primary reinforcer.

Question 28

Positive reinforcement

Answer 28

An addition to stimulus

Question 29

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 29

An aversive stimulus that loses one response but reinforces the other.
E.g reinforcing the child that if they behave, they wont have to wash the dishes - chances of them behaving will increase, but chances of them washing the dishes decrease.
A removal of stimulus.

Question 30

Positive Punishment

Answer 30

An appetitive stimulus that is presented for avoidance, for the organism to act in avoidance from it

Question 31

Negative Punishment

Answer 31

An aversive punishment that makes someone behave in avoidance of its consequence (negative)

Question 32

Extinction

Answer 32

A response that has no consequences (is not reinforced or punished) which is decreased.
Unpairing the US from CS

Question 33

Escape

Answer 33

A response that terminates an ongoing aversive stimulus. Leaving a place that is too boring.

Question 34

Avoidance

Answer 34

A response prevents an aversive stimulus from occurring.

Question 35

Continuous reinforcement (CRF or FR1)

Answer 35

A response being continuously reinforced.

Question 36

Intermittent reinforcement

Answer 36

Only some response are reinforced, according to a schedule of reinforcement

Question 37

Partial Reinforcement Effect (PRE)

Answer 37

An effect where intermittent reinforcement has a longer effect than that of continuous reinforcement.

Question 38

Discrimination

Answer 38

Responding differently in the presence of different stimuli.

Question 39

Generalisation

Answer 39

responding in a similar way in the presence of stimuli to the training stimuli.

Question 40

Schedule (intermittent) reinforcement

Answer 40

Fixed Term Schedule (FT)

Question 41

Adventitious reinforcer

Answer 41

A Reinforcer which follows a response by chance, not because there was contingency between the response and the reinforcer. (Response-independent reinforcer)
E.g Giving someone chocolate without expectation of them behaving to something I want them to behave

Question 42

Superstitious behaviour

Answer 42

Behaviour maintained by adventitious reinforcer.

e.g After giving the chocolate, they learned how to act good, therefore they do it again.