Lecture 6 - Learning Theory Flashcards
What is classic conditioning?
Learning to link two stimuli in a way that helps us anticipate an event to which we have a reaction
What is operant conditioning?
Changing behavior choices in response to consequences
What is social learning?
Acquiring new behaviors and information through observation and information, rather than by direct experience
How does classical conditioning work?
After repeated stimuli occurring in sequence, we associate the two stimuli together
What is the result of classic conditioning?
Our natural response to one stimuli can now be triggered by the new, predictive stimulus
What did Watson and Skinner believe about mental life?
They believed that mental life was much less important than behavior as a foundation for psychological science
What experiment did Ivan Pavlov conduct?
A classical conditioning experiment that observed dog salivation responses
What is a neutral stimulus?
A stimulus which does not trigger a response
What is an unconditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that leads an automatic response
What is an unconditioned response?
An automatic response to a stimulus
What is a conditioned stimulus?
A stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response
What is a conditioned response?
A learned response to a previously neutral stimuli
How are the unconditioned response and conditioned response different?
They are the same response, with the only difference being their triggers
How are the neutral stimulus and conditioned stimulus different?
They are the same stimulus, with the only difference being whether it triggers the conditioned response
What is higher order conditioning?
The conditioned stimulus is triggered by a new conditioned stimulus, which leads to the conditioned response being triggered
What is generalization in classical conditioning?
The tendency to have conditioned responses triggered by related stimuli
What is discrimination in classical conditioning?
The learned ability to only respond to specific stimuli, preventing generalization
What is acquisition in classical conditioning?
The initial stage of learning/conditioning
What gets acquired in classical conditioning?
The association between the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus
What is the timing required for classical conditioning?
The neutral stimulus must repeatedly occur before the unconditioned stimulus at around 0.5 sec
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
The diminishing of conditioned response
What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?
The conditioned stimulus has been extinguished, and, after a rest period, triggers the conditioned response with a lack of further conditioning
What was John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner’s classical conditioning experiment?
They banged a steel bar every time a rat was presented to teach an infant to fear them
How are classical and operant conditioning similar?
They are both associative learning
What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?
States that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become more unlikely
What did B.F. Skinner study?
How to more carefully measure the effect of consequences on chosen behavior
What did B.F. Skinner create?
An operant chamber that allows for more controlled methods of studying conditioning
What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?
Any feedback from the environment that makes behavior more likely to occur
What is discrimination in operant conditioning?
More specificity in what situations trigger a response
What is a primary reinforcer?
Stimulus that meets a basic need or is intrinsically desirable
What is a secondary reinforcer?
Stimulus when it has become associated with the primary reinforcer
What is a fixed interval schedule?
Reward after the same amount of time passes
What is a variable interval schedule?
Reward after a random amount of time passes
What is a fixed ratio schedule?
Reward after the same number of targeted behaviors
What is a variable ratio schedule?
Reward after randomly chosen instance of targeted behavior
What is a positive punishment?
An aversive response to undesired behavior with a rationale
What is negative punishment?
Ending undesired behavior for a stated reason
What is positive reinforcement?
Providing reward after desired behavior
What is negative reinforcement?
Withdrawing or removing the aversive experience
What is latent learning?
Skills and knowledge gained from experience but not apparent in behavior until rewards are given
What is intrinsic motivation?
The desire to perform behavior well for its own sake
What is extrinsic motivation?
Doing a behavior to receive rewards from others
What did Albert Bandura study?
Observational learning
What is observational learning?
Watching what happens when other people do a behavior and learning from experience
What is prosocial behavior?
Actions that benefit others (moral codes and social norms)
