Learning Theory

Question 1

what is the definition of learning?

Answer 1

when an experience produces a relatively enduring change in an organism’s behaviour/capabilities

Question 2

what are the 3 concepts that give the basis to types of learning?

Answer 2

oAntecedents (cues) – environmental stimuli that exist before the behaviour of interest.
oBehaviours – behaviour (future behaviours may be influenced by both antecedents and consequences).
oConsequences – a stimulus change that follows a behaviour of interest.

Question 3

what are the basic learning processes?

Answer 3

o Classical conditioning
o Operant conditioning
o Observational/modelling

Question 4

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

learning what events signal a consequence (innate response)

making an association

Question 5

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

learning one thing leads to another

Question 6

what is observational/modelling learning?

Answer 6

learning from others

Question 7

what is an unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 7

a stimulus that elicits an innate response

Question 8

what is an unconditioned response?

Answer 8

an innate response elicited by a stimulus

Question 9

what is a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 9

a stimulus, through association with an UCS, comes to illicit a CR (or UCR if paired with a UCS

Question 10

what is a conditioned response?

Answer 10

a response elicited purely by a conditioned stimulus

Question 11

in which situations is classical conditioning strongest?

Answer 11

o Repeated CS-UCS pairings.
o More intense UCS.
o Forward pairing – CS followed by the UCS.
o Short time interval between CS and UCS.

Question 12

what is extinction?

Answer 12

• reduction in response over time without pairing to the UCS/CS
• Just the CS alone will lead to a gradual “extinction”.

There can be “spontaneous recoveries” with the CS alone after periods of rest but the effect of these wanes with chronic use

Question 13

what is stimulus generalisation? what is the difference in the response?

Answer 13

a tendency to respond to similar stimuli (not identical) to a CS. Similar-CS will also elicit a CR, but in a weaker form e.g. less salivation

Question 14

what is stimulus discrimination?

Answer 14

the ability to respond differently to various stimuli

Question 15

what is a clinical example of classical conditioning?

Answer 15

Patients undergoing chemotherapy experienced anticipatory nausea and vomiting

Question 16

what is the UCS and the UCR in chemotherapy?

what is the CS and the CR in chemotherapy?

Answer 16

Chemotherapy (UCS) –> nausea (UCR

the sight of chemotherapy unit (CS)–> anticipatory nausea (CR)

Question 17

what is overshadowing?

Answer 17

when two or more CS are present but one provides a stronger response than the other as its more relevant. Here the CS can be altered.

Question 18

clinical example of overshadowing

Answer 18

oTwo groups of cancer patients, one given unpleasant, novel drink and the other given water.
oPatients with unpleasant drink showed reduced nausea to the original CS (sight of the chemotherapy unit)

Question 19

clinical experiment showing classical conditioning

Answer 19

“Little Albert” experiment paired a fluffy rat (UCS making the child happy (UCR)) to a loud bang of a hammer (UCS causing fear and so rat caused the fear).

Question 20

what are the components of the two-factor theory of maintenance in classical conditioning? Provide an example

Answer 20

• Trauma (UCS)
• Avoidance of UCS

Trauma (UCS) + needle (CS) –> fear response (UCR)

Avoiding injections –> fear reduction –> tendency to avoid is reinforced

Question 21

what does Thorndike’s Law of Effect & Operant conditioning state?

Answer 21

A response followed by a satisfying consequence will be more likely to occur.
A response followed by an aversive consequence will become less likely to occur.

remember operant is about consequences

Question 22

what is operant conditioning?

Answer 22

Learning through consequence:
a behaviour is learned and maintained by its consequences.
Use of reinforcement and punishment

Question 23

what is positive reinforcement? what are the types of reinforcers?

Answer 23

response is strengthened by PRESENTATION of a reinforcer

• primary and secondary reinforcers

Question 24

what is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 24

needed for survival, e.g. food, water

Question 25

what is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 25

stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers, e.g. money or praise.

Question 26

what is negative reinforcement?

Answer 26

response is strengthened by REMOVAL of an aversive stimulus

Question 27

what do the “positive” and “negative” in reinforcement refer to?

Answer 27

“positive” and “negative” refer to the presentation or removal of the stimulus.

Question 28

what is positive punishment?

Answer 28

response is weakened by the PRESENTATION of a stimulus

e.g spraying a cat for being a wasteman

Question 29

what is negative punishment?

Answer 29

response is weakened by the REMOVAL of a stimulus

e.g. confiscate phone

Question 30

which of punishment and reinforcement is the more potent?

Answer 30

reinforcement is much more potent in influencing behaviour than punishment because it teaches new behaviour unlike punishment which only decreases the frequency of a response

Question 31

what is operant extinction?

Answer 31

weakening and eventual disappearance of a response as it is no longer reinforced

Question 32

what is resistance to extinction?

Answer 32

the degree to which non-reinforced responses persist

Question 33

what are the different types of reinforcement schedules?

Answer 33

• fixed interval
• variable interval
• fixed ratio
• variable ratio

Question 34

what is a fixed interval schedule?

Answer 34

reinforcement occurs after fixed time.

Question 35

what is a variable interval schedule?

Answer 35

reinforcement occurs at random around an average.

Question 36

what is a fixed ratio schedule?

Answer 36

reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses.

Question 37

what is a variable ratio schedule?

Answer 37

reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses (based around an average).

Question 38

which of the reinforcement schedules produces the best response?

Answer 38

fixed ratio schedule
(after a certain number of response)
but easiest to extinguish

Question 39

which kind of reinforcement produces faster learning?

what is the downside of this type of reinforcement however?

Answer 39

continuous reinforcement (compared to partial)

however its reinforced responses are extinguished more rapidly than in partially reinforced responses
e.g. being in chronic pain and the positive consequences received as a result

Question 40

what is Bandura’s social learning theory?

Answer 40

Observational/Vicarious learning – we observe the behaviours and consequences of those behaviours.

Vicarious reinforcement – if their behaviours are reinforced, we tend to imitate.

Question 41

what are the steps to successful modelling of social learning ?

Answer 41

o Pay attention to model.
o Remember model.
o Reproduce modelled behaviour.
o If behaviour rewarded, more likely to recur

Question 42

example of social learning theory experiment

Answer 42

E.G. Bobo doll experiment (non-aggressive vs. aggressive play).

social learning can be observational (learning from others) and vicarious reinforcement (behaviours that are reinforced are more likely to be imitated)

Question 43

when is behaviour more likely going to be imitated?

Answer 43

oReward is seen.
oHigh status – i.e. doctor carries out the behaviour.
oSimilarity – i.e. colleagues.
oFriendly behaviour – i.e. peers.