Learning & Behavior Flashcards
Respondent conditioning
Classical conditioning
Pavlovian conditioning
Classical conditioning
Stimulus-response conditioning
Classical conditioning
John Watson
Little Albert
Unconditioned reflex
unconditioned stimulus → unconditioned response
Conditioned reflex
conditioned stimulus → conditioned response
Neutral stimulus
stimulus that naturally evokes no response
Delay conditioning
CS precedes US by short interval and then overlaps US; standard pairing for conditioning
Trace conditioning
CS precedes US and stops right before US
Temporal conditioning
US presented at consistent time interval (time becomes CS)
Stimulus conditioning
NS and US completely overlap; no learning or conditioning takes place because no contingency
Backward conditioning
US precedes NS; no learning or conditioning takes place because no contingency
Stimulus generalization
automatically generalizes from a conditioned stimulus (CS) to other similar neutral stimuli; same as mediated generalization
Mediated generalization
automatically generalizes from a conditioned stimulus (CS) to other similar neutral stimuli; same as stimulus generalization
Higher order conditioning
deliberate process in which a CS is paired with an unrelated NS until NS becomes a CS and also elicits CR
Includes second order conditioning, third order conditioning
Impossible beyond third level
Classical extinction
repeatedly presenting CS without US, eventually extinguishing CR
Spontaneous recovery
CR to CS briefly reappears following rest period during extinction trials
Stimulus discrimination
learns to distinguish between two NS based on which is paired with US
Experimental neurosis
if stimulus discrimination is made too difficult, animal will become agitated; no longer able to discriminate previously learned discrimination
Pseudoconditioning
NS that was not deliberately paired with US or CS comes to elicit CR (e.g., light turned on in room)
Habituation
Less responsive to US after repeated exposure, no longer elicits UR
Always involves US, not CS
Not possible with all US (e.g., electric shock)
Blocking
Occurs when an association between a CS and a US has been made and, subsequently, the presence of the CS blocks an association being made between a new neutral stimulus and the US when the CS and the new neutral stimulus are presented together prior to the US
Overshadowing
when two or more more stimuli are present, and one stimulus produces a stronger response than the other because it is more relevant or salient; Overshadowing is the finding that learning about a cue (referred to as X) is reduced when that cue is always accompanied by a second cue (referred to as A) during the learning phase (AX)
Reciprocal inhibition
a technique in behavior therapy that aims to replace an undesired response (e.g., anxiety) with a desired one by counterconditioning. It relies on the gradual substitution of a response that is incompatible with the original one and is potent enough to neutralize the anxiety-evoking power of the stimulus. See also systematic desensitization. [devised by Joseph Wolpe]
Joseph Wolpe
devised reciprocal inhibition technique for behavior therapy
Skinnerian conditioning
Operant conditioning
Instrumental conditioning
Operant conditioning
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
behaviors initially random, followed by rewards and punishers, influences future behavior
(Later took out punishment, though still generally included)
E.L.Thorndike
Thorndike’s Law of Effect; operant conditioning
B.F. Skinner
The operant conditioning process (Skinner’s theory of learning) The notion of schedules of reinforcement. Introduction of response rates as a dependent variable in research
Operant strength
strength of behavior (during both acquisition and extinction)
Continuous reinforcement
best for acquiring new behaviors
Satiation
reinforcer loses value from overuse
Thinning
change from continuous to intermittent reinforcement
Fixed interval (FI)
Reinforce first behavior after fixed time interval
Low response rate except increased at end of interval
Variable interval (VI)
Reinforce first behavior after variable length of time
Moderate and consistent response rate
Fixed ratio (FR)
Reinforce after consistent number of responses
Moderate to high response rate, may pause after reinforcement (esp. If high ratio)
Variable ratio (VR)
Reinforce after unpredictable number of responses
High response rate with few pauses
Best reinforcement schedule for Initial acquisition
VR (variable ratio), FR (fixed ratio), VI (variable interval), FI (fixed interval)
Best reinforcement schedule for resistance to extinction
VR (variable ratio), FR (fixed ratio), VI (variable interval), FI (fixed interval)
Pattern of responding for fixed reinforcers
fixed have pauses after reinforcement
Response burst
If an individual responds to a particular stimulus and is rewarded for his response, he will continue to react appropriately even after the reward ceases. His behavior will increase in order to bring the reward back, and this, by definition, is the “burst” which is encouraged by the extinction of the reward.
Superstitious behavior
results from accidental reinforcement or non-contingent reinforcement
Discrimination learning (stimulus control)
discriminate between situations in which reinforcement will or will not be forthcoming
Discriminative stimulus (SD)
stimulus that signals reinforcement
S delta (SΔ)
stimulus that signals reinforcement will not take place
Prompting
cueing about what behavior to perform
Fading
gradual reduction in prompting
Chaining
stringing together different behaviors to accomplish a goal; each behavior minorly reinforced and serves as a cue (discriminative stimulus) to perform next behavior; major reinforcement at end
Premack principle
high frequency behavior (something person likes to do) used to reinforce low frequency behavior (something person does not like to do)
Behavioral contrast
when two behaviors that have been equally reinforced have changes in level of reinforcement, behavior being reinforced will increase and one no longer being reinforced with decrease
Social learning theory
theory of observational learning; observation and modeling
Bandura
Bobo dolls study; social learning theory
Characteristics of most influential models for social learning theory (Bandura)
Models of high status, nurturant, same sex
Four steps of social learning
attention, retention, production, motivation
