Learning and Ethology Flashcards
goal of behavior is to reduce biological drive
Hull’s theory of motivation (drive-reduction theory)
Lorenz
understanding of animal behavior could be gained only out in the field
learning connections between different events
Classical conditioning (respondent conditioning)
stimuli that previously had no relation to a specific reflex could come to trigger that reflex
Pavlov
Reflex
unlearned response that is elicited by a specific stimulus
Acquisition
period during which an organism is learning the association of the stimuli
stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit the conditioned response
Generalization
stimulus that can reflexively elicit a response
Unconditioned stimulus
response reflexively elicited by and unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
stimulus that, after conditioning, is able to elicit a non-reflexive response
Conditioned stimulus
response that, after conditioning, is elicited by a conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
Extinction (classical conditioning)
repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus
after extinction and a period of rest, presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus will again elicit a weak conditioned response
Spontaneous recovery
Second-order conditioning
neutral stimulus is paired with a conditioned stimulus rather than an unconditioned stimulus
Sensory preconditioning
two neutral stimuli are paired together and then one of the neutral stimuli is paired with an unconditioned stimulus
if the conditioned stimulus is a good signal and it has informational value, or is a good predictor of the unconditioned stimulus, the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus will become associated
Contingency explanation of classical conditioning (Rescorla)
conditioned stimulus is a good signal for unconditioned stimulus and provides nonredundant information about the occurrence of the unconditioned stimulus
Blocking
Operant conditioning (instrumental conditioning)
learning the relationship between one’s actions and their consequences
Law of effect
if a response is followed by an annoying consequence, the animal will be less likely to emit the same response in the future; Thorndike
Positive reinforcement
probability that the desired response will be performed is increased by giving the organism something it wants whenever it makes the desired response; Skinner
Negative reinforcement
the probability that the desired response will be performed is increased by taking away or preventing something undesirable whenever the desired response is made; Skinner
behavior removes something undesirable
Escape
organism gets a warning that an aversive stimulus will soon occur, and the appropriate response completely avoids the aversive stimulus
Avoidance
Punishment
probability that a response will be made is decreased by giving the organism something undesirable whenever the response is made; Skinner
Extinction (operant conditioning)
behavior that used to bring reward no longer does so
Discriminative stimulus
stimulus condition that indicates that the organism’s behavior will have consequences
it takes longer to extinguish a response while receiving only occasional reinforcement
Partial reinforcement effect
organism receives reinforcement only after a fixed number of responses
Fixed-ratio reinforcement
receives reinforcement after a varying number of responses
Variable ratio reinforcement
reinforced on the first response after a fixed period of time has elapsed since the last reinforcement
Fixed-interval reinforcement
reinforced for the first response made after a variable amount of time has elapsed since the last reinforcement
Variable interval reinforcement
reinforced for every response
Continuous reinforcement schedule
reinforce successive approximations to the desired behavior
Shaping
reinforce the desired response while extinguishing others
Differential reinforcement
Flooding
forcing the client to directly experience the feared object
Implosion
forcing the client to imagine the feared object
Systematic desensitization
forcing the client to imagine the feared object while trying to ensure that the client stays relaxed by using deep relaxation and an anxiety hierarchy; Wolpe
Counter-conditioning
client cannot experience contradictory emotions simultaneously
Conditioned aversion
pairing a desired conditioned stimulus with an aversive unconditioned stimulus
negotiated agreement between two parties that explicitly states the behavioral change that is desired and indicates consequences of certain acts
Behavioral contract
removing the client from the potentially reinforcing situation before they can receive reinforcement for the undesirable behavior
Time-out procedure
given for desirable behaviors and are taken away for various undesirable behaviors
Token economies
a more preferred activity can be used to reinforce a less preferred activity
Premack principle
Insight
perception of the inner relationship between factors that are essential to solving a problem; Kohler
Cognitive map
mental representation of a physical space; Tolman
Biological constraints
different species have different inborn predispositions to learn different things in different ways
Problem solving-Thorndike
due to trial and error learning
animals are prepared to learn connections between certain stimuli
Preparedness (Garcia)
instinctual ways of behaving are able to override behaviors learned through operant conditioning
Instinctual drift
study of animal behavior under natural conditions
Ethology
Fixed-action pattern (FAP)
a stereotyped behavior sequence that does not have to be learned by the animal
Sign stimuli
features of a stimulus sufficient to bring about a particular FAP
sign stimuli that triggers social behaviors between animals
Releaser
Supernormal stimulus
stimulus that is more effective at triggering the FAP than the actual stimulus found in nature
Innate releasing mechanism (IRM)
mechanism in the nervous system that connects sign stimuli with the correct FAPs
Reproductive isolating mechanisms
behaviors that prevent animals of one species from attempting to mate with animals of a closely isolated species
Reproductive fitness
number of offspring that live to be old enough to reproduce
Theory of kin selection
animals act to increase their inclusive fitness rather than their reproductive fitness
Inclusive fitness
takes into account not only the number of offspring who survive to reproductive age, but also the number of other relatives who survive to reproductive age
behavior due to a complex and dynamic interplay between genetics and the environment
Sociobiology (Wilson)
