Learning (Test Sep. 24, 2024) Flashcards
Learning
Also known as Acquisition or conditioning. A relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience.
Classical conditioning
A stimulus creates a response. When associations are created between unrelated events/ideas/people/objects. It’s instinctive and primitive, occurring without thought. Is the most common form of learning.
Ivan Pavlov
In the 1890’s he experimented on dogs to train them to drool at the sound of a bell by associating the bell with bringing food.
Neutral stimulus
Doesn’t create an effect, therefore is neutral.
Unconditioned response
A response you don’t have to teach.
Conditioned stimulus and response
The neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned response becomes the conditioned response for the conditioned stimulus.
The “Little Albert Experiment”
1920’s Dr. John B. Watson conditioned a human baby to experience fear and cry at the sight of white rabbits/ fuzzy animals by making a loud painful noise when the baby came in contact with the animal.
Higher order conditioning
Using the first stimulus to create the connection to a second one. Ex. Teaching a dog to drool at a bell, and using that connection to add the response when hearing a horn.
Generalization
Taugh response spreads to similar stimuli. Ex. Little Albert is afraid not just of white rabbits but now all similar fuzzy animals.
Discrimination
Learning the difference between two similar stimuli.
Extinction
Response to stimuli stops when there is no association after a while. Ex. Dog stops drooling at the sound of a bell when food stops being brought with the bell.
Spontaneous recovery
After a period of extinction, the learning habit randomly returns.
Habituation
Stimulus’ effect is weakened by getting used to it, like getting used to a loud sound after a while so that we can continue to function.
Counter conditioning
Unlearning associations as a deliberate therapy like unlearning phobias.
Operant conditioning
Actions having consequences with rewards and punishments.
Reinforcers
Teach you what to do and what not to do by giving us something we want or taking away something we dislike enough to change our behavior.
Primary reinforcers
Things we aren’t taught to want, such as food.
Secondary reinforcers
Things we’re taught to want like money.
Edward Thorndike
Came up with the three laws of learning.
Law of Readiness- Focus on the work.
Law of Exercise- Practice/drill the behavior.
Law of Effect- The consequences of an action. Scientific justification for rewards and effects.