Learning Theory Flashcards
Sensory Memory
Hold info from senses very briefly, generally less than 2 seconds. Does not change with rehearsal
Feature integration theory
Perception of an object as an entity rather than a cluster of unrelated features depends on focused visual attention.
Bandura’s Social Learning Theory & Functional Value
Learn through modeling; a bx has fx value when you can anticipate desirable consequences
Other terms for Classical Conditioning
Respondent (involuntary), Pavlovian, Stimulus-Response
Major Classical Conditioning Theorists
Pavlov & John Watson
Classical cond: US –> UR
Unconditioned Stim–>Unconditioned Resp;
Lights–> Pupil Dilation (innate,universal resp)
Class cond: CS–> CR
Cond Stim –> Cond Resp (result of experience & learning, not universal)
Ice Cream Truck music–> excited
How is conditioned response learned?
Repeated pairing of a neutral stim w/unconditioned stimulus
Pavlov: Tone (NS) repeatedly paired with Meat (US), over time produces salivation (CR) when presented alone
*CR same as UR, but may be of less magnitude than the UR
How can you tell if a stim is conditioned versus unconditioned?
Ask yourself: Is the resp to the stim universal for everyone?
Ex: fishnet stockings– not everyone experiences arousal, so conditioned stim
2 key factors in classical conditioning
Contiguity: closeness in time/temporal sequence of presentation of US & NS
Contingency: US must appear to depend or be contigent upon CS (so NS signals coming of the US)
Methods of Class Cond: Delay Conditioning/Standard Pairing
CS (orig the NS) precedes the US by a very short interval
Tone (CS) sounded .5 sec before meat powder (US)(contiguity), US appears dependent of CS (contingency)
Methods of Class Cond: Trace Conditioning
CS (orig the NS) precedes the US by a period of time and stops before the US (not as short a time interval as Standard Pairing)
Dog food bucket opens (CS), then Hank gets food (US)
Methods of Class Cond: Temporal Conditioning
US presented repeatedly at same time, such that time itself becomes the CS
Hank fed everyday when we go downstairs, such that morning wakeup becomes CS
Methods of Class Cond: Simultaneous Conditioning
NS & US completely overlap
Tone (NS) sounded at same time meat powder (US)presented
*NO LEARNING takes place, because there is no contingency established
Methods of Class Cond: Backward Conditioning
US presented before the NS
Meat powder (US) presented before tone (NS)
*NO LEARNING takes place, the NS will never elicit UR because contingency is not estab and contiguity is not sufficient
Stimulus Generalization
Classical cond term; Occurs when a subject automatically demonstrates a CR to stimuli that are similar to the CS
Ex: Watson’s Little Albert experiment: Albert conditioned to fear white rat (CS) then automatically feared white rabbit & santa claus mask
Higher Order Conditioning
Classical Cond Term; Deliberate pairing of CS with another NS until the new NS becomes another CS and elicits CR
Ex: Pavlov… Tone (CS1) paired repeatedly with flash of light (new NS) until light alone elicits CR so it becomes CS2. Known as 2nd Order Conditioning
*Impossible to condition beyond 3rd order
Classical Extinction
CS repeatedly presented without the US
Ex; Little Albert study…white rat (CS) repeatedly presented without loud noise (US), eventually fear response eliminated
Spontaneous Recovery
During extinction trials, CR briefly reappears to CS
Ex: Dog undergoes extinction trials one day and stops salivating to tone. Next day returns to lab and initially salivates (CR) when tone (CS) presented. CR will vanish again in extinction trials continue
Stimulus Discrimination
Subject learns to discriminate between 2 similar neutral stimuli because only one of them has been paired with US
Ex: Discrimination between 500 Hz tone and 100 Hz tone
Experimental Neurosis
Related to Stimulus Discrimination; Occurs when two stimuli are too similar for the subject to distinguish, such that subject become agitated. If attempt to return to original discrimination that was mastered, subject will no longer be able to discriminate (as if they had a break down and cannot function any longer)
Pseudoconditioning
NS is NOT DELIBERATELY paired with US or CS comes to elicit CR over time
Light to room turned on before US or CS presented such that dog salivates (CR) to light
Habituation
After repeated exposure to US, it no longer elicits UR
Ex: person lives by a railway and over time noise of passing trains (US) no longer produces startle response (UR)
*Habituation is always to an US, NOT the CS and is not possible with all US (for example extreme electric shock)
Definition of Operant Conditioning Theory
Explains voluntary behavior; Posits that we learn as a result of reward & punishment of behaviors
Other names for Operant Cond Theory
Skinnerian conditioning and Instrumental Conditioning (bx is instrumental or goal directed toward obtaining rewards)
2 Major Operant Cond Theorists
EL Thorndike & BF Skinner
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Bxs initially emitted in random trial & error fashion. If followed by pleasurable consequences, bx gets stronger & more frequent (reward). If followed by unpleasant consequences, bx gets weaker & less freq (punishment)
Reinforcement
Always increases target bx; brings subject to more desirable state
Punishment
Always decreases target bx ; brings subject to less desirable state
Positive; Negative
Something added; Something taken away