Lecture 7- Escape, avoidance, punishment Flashcards
Do animals first learn to escape or avoid?
- Animals learn to escape first then they learn to avoid
What is the shuttle avoidance task?
- An animal has to shuttle back and forth in a box to avoid an aversive stimulus
Give an example of how the lack of change can reinforce a response for fear?
2 pts
Reduction of fear serves as a negative reinforcer
ex- rat hears sound –> fear –> jumps barrier –> lower fear
What does Hobard Mowrer (1960) say about the two process theory of avoidance? What 2 processes did her believe were involved in learning an avoidance response?
- Early attempt to explain the motivation for avoidance behavior
- Classical conditioning and operant conditioning were involved in learning an avoidance response
In the two process theory of avoidance, what is process 1? Escape or avoidance?
Give an example in the rat in shuttle avoidance procedure ?
6pts
- Escape
- Classical conditioning of a fear response to a CS
- On each trial light (NS/CS) is paired with shock (CS)
- Light then turns into the CS
Example:
Light (NS) : Shock (US) –> Fear (UR)
Light (CS) –> Fear (CR)
In the two process theory of avoidance, what is process 2? Escape or avoidance?
Give an example in the rat in shuttle avoidance procedure ?
4pt
- Avoidance
- Operant conditioning of a fear response to a SD
- Reduction of fear is a negative reinforcer
Example: Light (SD) : Climb over barrier (R) –> Reduction in fear (SR)
What is a problem with Mowrer’s 2 process theory?
1pts
In the absence of the US, the fearful response should extinguish… but because fear responses are quickly acquired and avoid, there is no opportunity for extinction
What is incubation? Give an example
3pts
- If you associate a fearful event with a stimulus, you will avoid that stimulus whenever possible
- Incubation is the strengthening of a conditioned fear response as a result of brief exposures to the aversive CS.
Ex- each time you encounter a dog, your fear response grows stronger
Avoidance learning appears to be a fundamental
process in the BLANK and BLANK of
BLANK behavior.
Give an example of this.
Development, maintenance, phobic
If you were bitten by a dog, you may develop a fear of dogs and might try to avoid dogs in the future.
Limitations to applying models of experimental avoidance to human phobias:
- Real phobias are often acquired following repeated exposure.
- Experimentally conditioning avoidance usually takes several trials
True or false
- False- Real phobias are often acquired following a single exposure
- True
What is approach- avoidance conflict?
Give an example.
4pts
- Events can be both rewarding and punishing
- When an event is far away, the rewarding aspects tend to outweigh the punishing aspects
- When an event approaches, the punishing aspects outweighs reward
Ex- First few weeks of a new job vs. 6 months later
Avoidance conditioning and OCD- What is OCD characterized by?
- Persistent thoughts, impulses or images (called obsessions)
- Repetitive stereotypes actions (called compulsions) carried out in response to these obsessions
Avoidance conditioning and OCD:
Ex 1- Compulsive cleaning: A person may have an obsessive worry about contacting germs (obsession)
What compulsive tendency does this lead to?
Ex 2- Compulsive checking: A person might have an obsessive worry about whether she turned the oven off after dinner.
What compulsive tendency does this lead to?
Compulsive cleaning: This leads to a compulsive tendency to take a shower and clean the house many times each day.
Compulsive checking: This leads to a compulsive tendency of returning to the kitchen several times a day to check it.
OCD and the two process theory - What are obsessions and compulsions associated with a decrease or increase in?
Give an example.
2pts
Obsessions are associated with an increase in anxiety, whereas compulsions are associated with a decrease in anxiety.
Example:
- thinking about germs increases anxiety
- Washing hands decreases anxiety
Difference between OCD vs Phobia?
Give an example for each.
6pts
- OCD typically involves active avoidance response.
- doing something to reduce the anxiety
Ex- cleaning often
- Phobic behavior typically involves passive avoidance.
- Don’t do something to reduce the anxiety
Ex- Avoiding contaminated areas
