Learning Theory Classical Flashcards
Unconditioned stimulus
A stimulus that leads to an automatic response.
Pavlov: the meat powder was the US.
Conditioned Stimulus
Situation in which stimulus is given just before another signal.
Unconditioned response
Automatic response to a stimulus
Pavlov’s dogs: salivating was the UR
Conditioned Response
Automatic response established by training (conditioned stimulus).
Delay conditioning
Type of forward conditioning and involves presenting the CS so that it precedes and overlaps presentation of the US.
Best time interval is .5 seconds.
Most efficient procedure for establishing a conditioned response.
Trace conditioning
Type of forward conditioning that entails presenting and terminating the CS prior to presenting the US. Produces a weaker CR than does delay conditioning.
Simultaneous conditioning
Less effective than trace conditioning. Involves presenting and withdrawing the CS and US at the same time.
Backward conditioning
Entails presenting the US prior to the CS. Does not usually produce a CR. Underlies classical conditioning.
Number of conditioning trials
The greater the number of conditioning trials, the stronger and more persistent the CR.
Regardless of number of trials, CR is usually weaker in intensity or magnitude than the UR.
Pre-exposure to the CS or US
Repeated exposure to the US or intended CS before the CS and US are paired slows down acquisition of the CR.
Classical extinction
The gradual disappearance of a conditioned response as the result of repeated presentation of the CS alone
Spontaneous recovery
A conditioned response is suppressed rather than eliminated by extinction trials. Learning is never lost, merely inhibited.
Stimulus generalization
when the subject responds with a conditioned response not only to the CS but also to stimuli similar to the CS.
Stimulus Discrimination
The ability to discriminate between the CS and similar stimuli and respond only to the CS with a CR.
Opposite of stimulus generalization.
Experimental Neurosis
an abnormal behavioral condition produced in an artificial laboratory setting.
EXAMPLE: in one experiment a dog learned to salivate in the presence of a circle, which had been paired with food, but not in the presence of an ellipse, which had not been paired with food.
Higher-order conditioning
Occurs when a previously established CS serves as a US to establish a conditioned response for a new conditioned (neutral) stimulus.
i.e.-the new CS is paired with the established CS so that, eventually, the new neutral stimulus produces a conditioned response.
Blocking
Researched by Kamin (1969)
an association has already been made between a CS and a US and, as a result, the CS blocks an association between a second neutral (CS) stimulus and the US when the CS and the second neutral stimulus are presented together prior to the US.
Overshadowing
Occurs when 2 neutral stimuli (rather than a CS and a new CS) are repeatedly presented together prior to the US.
Presentation of the 2 stimuli together produces a CR, but when the 2 stimuli are presented separately, only one produces the CR.
The “father of American behaviorism”
classical conditioning with Albert
John B. Watson
Dr. Daniel Daggett presents Stimulus A along with a loud noise so that, eventually, a participant in his study reacts with a startle reaction whenever Stimulus A is presented alone. Dr. Daggett then pairs Stimulus B with Stimulus A so that Stimulus B also elicits a startle reaction when presented alone. This procedure is an example of:
higher-order conditioning
Rescorla and Wagner (1972) contend that “blocking” occurs because:
the second neutral stimulus does not provide new information about the US
In vivo exposure with response prevention (flooding) and implosive therapy are both based on:
classical extinction
Classical extinction occurs when:
the CS is repeatedly presented alone
Systemic desensitization
originally developed by Wolpe.
An application of reciprocal inhibition for eliminating anxiety responses.
Hierarchy-arranged anxiety-evoking events are paired with relaxation.
Four stages to the systemic desensitization process:
1) relaxation training
2) construction of an anxiety hierarchy
3) desensitization in imagination
4) in vivo desensitization
dismantling strategy
used to identify the mechanisms responsible for the benefits of systemic desensitization
involves comparing the effects of the various components of a treatment by administering different components to different groups of participants
Research findings on systemic desensitization
extinction, or repeated exposure to the CS without the US, is the primary factor responsible for it’s effects (Bandura 1969)
Behavioral sex therapy
Masters and Johnson’s (1970) sensate focus involves pairing situations that evoke performance anxiety with pleasurable physical sensations and relaxation.
research findings: most effective for treating preamture ejaculation (“squeeze technique”) and vaginismus (progressive dilators).
When using _________, the maladaptive behavior associated with it (CS) is paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes pain or other unpleasant responses.
aversive counterconditioning
In vivo aversion therapy
used to treat substance use, paraphilias, and self injurious behaviors.
Target behavior is paired with an aversive stimulus such as electric shock, bad odor, or emetic.
paraphilias are best treated by
combining aversion therapy with orgasmic reconditioning, relapse prevention, etc
covert sensitization
client imagines engaging in the maladaptive behavior and then imagines (rather than actually confronts) an aversive stimulus.
covert sensitization
client imagines engaging in the maladaptive behavior and then imagines (rather than actually confronts) an aversive stimulus.
The two-factor theory of learning (Mowrer, 1960)
proposes that the development of a phobic response is the result of both classical and operant conditioning.
In vivo exposure with response prevention
client is exposed in “real life” to anxiety arousing stimuli for a prolonged period of time and is prohibited from making their usual avoidance or other anxiety reducing response.
flooding
involves exposure to the most anxiety inducing stimuli for a prolonged period of time
graduated (graded) exposure
begin with exposure to situations that produce minimal anxiety and then gradually progresses to situations that invoke increasingly more intense anxiety
Findings on exposure
Prolonged continuous (massed) exposure > several brief sessions
short durations can actually make it worse
High anxiety provocation during exposure may not be necessary, tranquilizers are also good
self-directed exposure (following training by therapist)=therapist guided exposure
GRP = IND
Partner assisted exposure good for agoraphobia
Interoceptive exposure has been found effective for reducing panic attacks (inducing panic like symptoms)
Implosive therapy
exposure conducted in imagination with psychodynamic interpretations
EMDR findings
Davidson and Parker (2001) found that the “eye movements” weren’t as necessary and the benefits were from exposure.
