Learning Theory Flashcards
What is learning?
A change in behavior resulting from experience
Acquiring new behaviors, skills, or knowledge
Modifying old behaviors
How is learning achieved?
Thru interactions with the environment
Overtime, through repeated experience
Simple Learning
Non-associative
Habituation
Sensitization
Complex Learning
Associative
Classical Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Modeling
Social Learning
Non-associative learning
Simple Learning
Learning from repeated stimulation
Habituation
Behavior DECREASES with repeated exposure
More likely to occur when cues are seen as unimportant
Ex: White noise, feeling clothing, blood draws
Sensitization
Behavior INCREASES with repeated exposure
More likely with cues that signal important information, like pain, reward, urgency
Ie: Response to pager, cell phones ringing
Drug sensitization –> get more sensitive to drugs (addicted - end up using more and more)
Classical Conditioning- Unconditioned stimuli
Evolutionary important
Food, loud noises, pain
Classical Conditioning- Unconditioned repose
Salivation, startle, approach, withdraw
Classical Conditioning- Conditioned stimuli
Anything
Learned association with a conditioned stimulus
Classical Conditioning- Conditioned response
Same as unconditioned response
Salivate, startle, approach, withdrew
Extinction
Disappearance of conditioned response- association broken
Bell no longer produces salivation
Spontaneous Recovery
Reappearance of conditioned response after extinction
Bell= Salivation
Stimulus Generalization
Different but similar stimulus causes conditioned response
Buzzer= Salivation (instead of bell)
Ie: PTSD
Learned Helplessness
Forced to endure aversive, painful, or unpleasant stimuli
Learns to stop trying to avoid encounters with those stimuli, even if they are escapable
Apathetic, hopeless
Linked to depression
Uncontrollable bad events –> perceived lack of control –> generalized helpless behavior
Imprinting
Phase-sensitive learning (critical periods)
Rapid
Ex: attachment
Operant conditioning
Trial and error learning
Learning occurs as a result of the consequences (actions, feelings, thoughts) of previous behavior
Changing behavior by administering a + or - reinforcement after a desired behavior
Explains voluntary behavior
Reinforcement
Increase frequency of desired behavior
Positive- add something (reward) –> most effective for learning
Negative- remove something (relief) –> motivates adherence to medical treatment
Punishment
Decrease frequency of undesired behavior
Positive- add reprimand
Negative- take away/penalty
Continuous schedule of reinforcement
Reinforced every time a response is emitted
Ratio schedule of reinforcement
Reinforcement frequency based on # of responses
Interval schedule of reinforcement
Reinforcement frequency based on time since last reinforced behavior
Fastest learning
Continuous reinforcement
Most resistant to extinction
Variable reinforcement
Most effective at reducing an undesirable behavior long term
Extinction (vs punishment)
Satiation
Reinforcers lose value after time
Highly suspects blue to extinction (Interval?)
Observational learning
Imitation based learning
1) Attention
2) Retention
3) Production
4) Motivation- reinforcement for accurate performance
Extinction vs punishment
Punishment produces more temporary effects
Extinction effects can go for the long term (I.e.: time out is a good example)
Variable vs fixed
Learning takes longer with variable rather than fixed (for both ratio and interval)
