Learning Theory Flashcards
What is learning defined as
A process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in an organism’s behaviour or capabilities
What is classical conditioning defined as
a process that creates an association between a naturally existing stimulus and a previous neutral one.
What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS
a stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (UCR) without prior learning
What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
a stimulus that, through association with a UCS, comes to elicit a conditioned response similar to the original UCR
What is an Unconditioned Response (UCR)
a reflexive or innate response that is elicited by a stimulus (UCS) without prior learning
What is a Conditioned Response (CR)
a response elicited by a conditioned stimulus
What is Stimulus Generalisation
a tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to a conditioned stimulus – will elicit CR but in a weaker form
What is Stimulus Discrimination
the ability to respond differently to various stimuli
What is Extinction
a process in which the CS is presented repeatedly in the absence of the UCS, causing the CR to weaken and eventually disappear
What does Pavlovs dogs demonstrate? What is the UCS and CS?
Demonstrates classical conditioning
Pavlov’s Dogs
• Dogs naturally salivate in response to food (UCS). A tone (CS) was then associated with the food, to condition the dogs to the tone.
• After conditioning, dogs salivated in the presence of the tone (CS) and the absence of the food (UCS)
What does the little Albert experiment demonstrate? What is the UCS and CS?
Classical conditioning
Watson & Raynor (1920) – Little Albert Experiment
• Toy rat initially produced no response in baby. Rat was then associated with a loud noise (UCS), to condition the baby to the rat.
• After conditioning, baby cried in the presence of the rat (CS) and the absence of loud noise (UCS).
4 things that are required for observational social learning?
• Success requires 1) attention, 2) retention, 3) production, 4) motivation
What is social learning
• Occurs by watching and imitating actions of another person or by noting consequences of a person’s actions
What does the Bobo Doll experiment demonstrate? What happened in it?
Demonstrates social learning
All children spent time in a playroom with an adult who modelled either non-aggressive (building a tinker toy) or aggressive play (punching and striking the Bobo doll with a mallet).
All children then spent a further 20 minutes in the room alone and their behaviour was observed. Aggressive behaviour both imitative and non-imitative was recorded.
Children who observed aggressive behaviour showed a much higher level of aggression towards the doll.
Define operant conditioning
a process by which behaviour is learned and maintained by its consequences.
Define reinforcement
a response is strengthened by an outcome that follows it.
Define reinforcer
outcome (a stimulus or event) that increases the frequency of a response
Define punishment
a response is weakened by the outcome that follows it.
Define Operant Extinction
the weakening and eventual disappearance of a response because it is no longer reinforced.
Define punisher
a consequence that weakens (decreases) the frequency of a response.
2 types of reinforcement? Explain them?
- Positive: occurs when a response is strengthened by subsequent presentation of a reinforcer.
- Negative: occurs when a response is strengthened by removal (or avoidance) of an aversive stimulus.
What are the 5 different schedules of reinforcement
- Fixed Interval: reinforcement occurs at a fixed time interval
- Variable Interval: time interval varies at random around an average
- Fixed Ratio: reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses
- Variable Ratio: reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centered around an average
- Continuous Reinforcement: every instance of behaviour is reinforced —>
- More rapid learning with continuous, as association is easier to understand
- Behaviour extinguishes more rapidly that partially reinforced response as the shift to no reinforcement is sudden and obvious
Which is the best schedule of reinforcement for learning and why
Continuous as it is easier to make the association
In which reinforcement schedule does behaviour extinguish the most rapidly when reinforcment is stopped
Continuous as the shift to no reinforcement is sudden and obvious
When does observational learning occur?
Before direct practise is even allowed
What is to be bore in mind regarding observational learning?
You don’t imitate everyone
Classical conditioning is strongest when: (4)
- There is a repeated CS-UCS pairings
- The UCS is more intense (the more intense it is, the stronger the response is).
- The sequence involves forward pairing (i.e. CS UCS)
- The time interval between the CS and UCS is short. If the time interval isn’t short enough, the two stimuli won’t be paired together and carry out a response.
