PSY101 - Chapter 7: Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

A relatively permanent behavior change due to experience.

Question 2

Conditioning

Answer 2

The process of learning associations.

Question 3

Classical Conditioning

Answer 3

Association between two stimuli.
Lightning + thunder = startled reaction.
Seeing lightning = anticipation of loud noise + wincing.

Question 4

Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer 4

The stimulus that elicits an automatic/natural response (before conditioning).

Question 5

Unconditioned Response

Answer 5

The automatic/natural response to a stimulus (before conditioning).

Question 6

Conditioned Stimulus

Answer 6

The stimulus that is paired with the US (initially does not elicit a response, but after conditioning elicits a response).

Question 7

Neutral Stimulus

Answer 7

A stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning.

Question 8

Conditioned Response

Answer 8

The response to the CS.

Question 9

Pavlov’s Experiments

Answer 9

Classical conditioning: a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.

• -Food = salivation.
• -Bell before food = salivation at the bell.

Question 10

Extinction

Answer 10

The diminished responding that occurs when the CS no longer signals an upcoming US.

Question 11

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 11

The reappearance of a weakened conditioned response after a pause.

Question 12

Generalization

Answer 12

The tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the CS to elicit similar responses (CR).

Question 13

Discrimination

Answer 13

The learned ability to discriminate between a CS and stimuli that do not signal an US.

Question 14

Biological Predispositions

Answer 14

John Garcia: organisms are predisposed to learn associations that help them adapt and survive.
–Contrary to this, some are learned more readily than others and US does not have to immediately follow the CS.

Question 15

John Watson

Answer 15

Emotional responses can be understood as developing through classical conditioning.
–Conditioned Little Albert of fear white animals.
Noise (US) = fear (UR)
Noise (US) + Rat (NS) = Fear (UR)
Rat (CS) = Fear (CR)

Question 16

Phobias

Answer 16

US = UR
US + NS = UR
CS = CR
If applied to all other of that thing that causes the fear, constitutes a phobia.

Question 17

Operant Conditioning

Answer 17

Subject acts in some way, receives response from environment, learning occurs.
–Rat pushes lever, receives pellet of food. Now knows it can get food if it pushes the lever.

Question 18

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 18

Behavior followed by a pleasant outcome is likely to happen again.

Question 19

Operant Conditioning - Cat Box

Answer 19

Skinner developed the operant chamber to study operant conditioning (cat box).

Question 20

Shaping Behavior

Answer 20

Shaping - a procedure in which reinforcers (like food) guide an animal’s actions toward desired behavior (a.k.a. successive approximations).
–Guy with the mouse obstacle course.

Question 21

Reinforcement

Answer 21

Any response that strengthens a behavior happening again.
Primary reinforcer: an innately reinforcing stimulus.
Conditioned reinforcer: a stimulus that gains tis power to reinforce through its association with a primary reinforcer.

Question 22

Schedules of Reinforcement

Answer 22

1. Continuous: fixed ratio of 1:1.
2. Fixed Ratio: reinforcement after an exact number of target behaviors.
3. Variable Ratio: reinforcement after variable number of target behaviors.
4. Fixed Interval: Reinforcement can be obtained after exact amount of time.
5. Variable Interval: reinforcement can be obtained after variable amount of time.
   - -Responses are more consistent with a variable schedule.

Question 23

Positive

Answer 23

Add a stimulus.

Question 24

Negative

Answer 24

Take away a stimulus.

Question 25

Punishment

Answer 25

Any event that weakens a behavior happening again.

–Swift and sure punishers can powerfully repress unwanted behavior, leaving it to surface much worse in the future.

Question 26

Latent Learning

Answer 26

a type of learning that becomes apparent only when there is incentive to demonstrate (and in absence of reinforcement).

Question 27

Biological Constraints

Answer 27

Predispose organisms to learn associations that are naturally adaptive (training a pigeon to peck rather than flap wings for food).

Question 28

Learning by Observation

Answer 28

Bandura made experiments where an adult actor would tray a Bobo doll either aggressively or neutrally, then the child would be put in a room with toys and a Bobo doll and would treat the Bobo doll exactly how the adult treated it.
–Girls were less aggressive, boys were more likely to be aggressive if they watched a man do it.

Question 29

Prosocial and Antisocial Models

Answer 29

Prosocial have positive effects on behavior, antisocial models have negative effects.
– Watching violent TV programs causes aggressive behavior (Boyatzis et al: kids watched Power Rangers and had 7x more aggression than the control group).

Question 30

Mirror Neurons

Answer 30

Provide a neural basis for everyday imitation and observational learning.

Question 31

Children and Imitation

Answer 31

Children tend to overimitate, doing what an adult has done even if unnecessary.

Question 32

Theory of Mind

Answer 32

People’s ideas about their own and others’ mental states (feelings, perceptions, thoughts, predicting behaviors).