Learning theory Flashcards
What is learning?
A process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in behaviour or capabilities
What are antecedents?
Environmental conditions or stimulus changes that exist before behavioural change
What is classical conditioning?
A process that creates an association between a naturally existing stimulus and a previous neutral one
What are two famous studies that shows classical conditioning?
Pavlov’s dogs
Watson and Rayner (1920)- Little Albert experiment
What was the Pavlov’s dogs study?
A bell was rung which initially produced no response in dogs
The bell was then rung before feeding so the bell was associated with food (unconditioned stimulus) to condition the dog to the bell
After conditioning, the dogs salivated in the presence of the tone (conditioned stimulus) but in the absence of food (unconditioned stimulus)
What is an unconditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (unconditioned response) without prior learning
What is a conditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that through association with a UCS comes to elicit a conditioned response that is similar to the original unconditioned response
What is stimulus generalisation?
A tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar but not identical to a conditioned stimulus- will elicit a CR in a weaker form (Pavlov’s hear slightly different sound, they will salivate but not as much)
What is stimulus discrimination?
The ability to respond differently to different stimuli
What is extinction?
A process in which the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus causing the conditioned response to weaken and eventually disappear
What is observational learning?
Occurs by watching and imitating actions of another person, or by noting consequences of a person’s actions
What does observational learning require to be successful?
- Attention
- Retention
- Production
- Motivation
What is the Bandura baby doll experiment?
Study on observational learning
Children watched adults aggressively beat up toy dolls
When allowed to play with the doll themselves, the children imitated the adults and aggressively beat up the doll themselves
What is operant conditioning?
A process by which behaviour is learned and maintained by its consequences
What is reinforcement?
A response is strengthed by the outcome that follows it
What is a reinforcer?
The outcome that strengthens the response
What is a primary reinforcer?
Stimuli, such as food and water, that an organism naturally finds reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs
What is a secondary reinforcer?
Stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through their association with primary reinforcers
What is punishment?
A response that is weakened by the outcome that follows it
What is a punisher?
A consequence that weakens the frequency of a response
What is operant extinction?
Weakening and eventual disappearance of a response because it is no longer reinforced
What are the two types of reinforcement?
Positive- When a response is strengthened by subsequent presentation of a reinforcer
Negative- When a response is strengthened by removal of an aversive stimulus
What are the four different schedules of partial reinforcement?
Fixed interval- Reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval (activity increases as deadline nears)
Variable interval- Time interval varies at random around an average (steady activity results)
Fixed ratio- Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses (activity is slowed after reinforcement and then picks up)
Variable ratio- Reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centred around an average (greatest activity of all schedules)
What is continuous reinforcement?
Every instance of behaviour is reinforced
