Module 2 - Learning Behavioural Psychology Cognitive Social Learning Flashcards
Learning:
Any enduring change in the way an organism responds based on experience
Experience shapes behaviour
Behaviourism Learning
Stimulus -> Response model (reflex)
Classical conditioning:
Associative learning
Innate reactions can come to be paired with neutral stimuli, to produce learned (conditioned) responses
Neutral Stimuli + US -> UR
After repeated pairings
CS (originally neutral stimulus) -> CR
Reflex:
Automatic response to a stimulus
Unconditioned Stimulus (US) -> Unconditioned Response example
Puff of air (US) -> blinking Eye (UR/ Reflex)
Decays with time
(Classical Conditioning)
Under-utilized conditioned associations can be removed
Extinction
(Classical Conditioning & Operant)
Classical Conditioning: Occurs when association is unlearned when CS is presented repeatedly without the US
Operant conditioning: occurs when behaviours (operant) are not followed by previous reinforcement / punishment
Spontaneous Recovery
(Classical Conditioning)
Conditioned response can be recovered
Connection traces remain, re-training conditioned response later is extremely fast
Stimulus Generalisation
(Classical Conditioning: Range of conditioned stimulus)
Once CR is in place you can train the CR to respond to a wide range of stimulus
Eg. CR can occur from CS Whistle, bell, high pitch
Stimulus Discrimination
(Classical Conditioning: Range of conditioned stimulus)
When CR occurs to very narrow and specific CS.
Eg. CR is only to whistle, not bell
Blocking
(Complications of classical conditioning)
A new CS will fail to be paired if presented alongside another CS that is already paired
Eg. Disco lights (CS2) + Whistle (CS1) + Food (US) -> Dog Salivate (UR)
Whistle (CS1) -> Dog Salivate (CR)
Disco lights (CS2) -> No reaction from dog
Latent Inhibition
(Complications of classical conditioning)
If a CS has been presented without a pairing before, it will be difficult to pair with new things
Eg. Peanut butter sandwiches have been eaten for many years. A one time reaction of vomiting will not stop you from eating peanut butter sandwiches
Principles
(Operant Conditioning)
Voluntary actions
Good consequences -> more likely repeating actions
Bad consequences -> less likely in repeating actions
Reinforcement
(Operant Conditioning)
Any consequences that increases behaviour
Phase out reinforcers and move to naturally occurring reinforcers - sense of achievement
Primary reinforcers
(Operant Conditioning)
Biological reinforcers, water, food
Secondary Reinforcers
(Operant Conditioning)
Money - to buy food, stickers
Intrinsic Reinforcers
(Operant Conditioning)
Comes from the activity itself, rather than from reinforcements or punishments
Eg. Sense of achievement
Extrinsic Reinforcers
(Operant Conditioning)
Comes from external consequences of performing behaviour
Eg. Money for mowing lawn
Artificial Reinforcers
Something added to build skills
Eg. A reward
Naturally occurring Reinforcers
Used to maintain & increase skills
Eg. Success make you feel good about yourself
Reinforcers are natural or artificial
Can be a combination of both
Graded in comparison to each other
Punishment
(Operant Conditioning)
Any consequences that decrease behaviour
Problems with punishment
(Operant Conditioning)
Generate undesirable effects:
Anger
Suppression of target behaviours
Punishment need monitoring (unpractical)
Escape - subject may find behaviours to escape situation
Ethical implications