psyc midterm chapter 6 Flashcards
Be able to define learning, as well as understand the distinct types of learning (habituation/sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning)
Habituation- is the process by which we respond less strongly over time to repeated stimuli (noise pollution, driving, clocks ticking)
Sensitization- increase in behavior that can result from repeated presentations of a stimulus. (gun fire, doors slamming, sirens)
Classical conditioning- a form of learning in which animals come to respond to a previously neutral stimulus that had been paired with another stimulus that elicits an automatic response.
Operant conditioning- a type of learning where behavior is influenced by consequences. In simple terms, it’s when you learn to repeat behaviors that lead to rewards and avoid behaviors that lead to punishments. is learning based on the effects of your actions
Understand and be able to describe Pavlov’s research of classical conditioning using dogs’ salivation to food.
Was a form of learning in which animals came to respond to a previously neutral stimulus that had been paired with another stimulus that elicited an automatic response. Yet pavlov’s initial observations were merely anecdotal, so like any good scientist he put his information observations to a more rigorous test.
Be able to describe classical conditioning and distinguish between a UCS, UCR, NS, CR, and CS both within and outside of Pavlov’s research study (meaning, you should be able to identify, in an example, which things are a UCS vs. a CS, etc.).
Classical conditioning- a previously neutral stimulus comes to elicit an automatic response.
UCS- unconditioned stimulus- a stimulus that elicits an automatic response without previous conditioning. In the case with pavlovs dogs, the meat is the uncondtioned stimulus is the meat powder.
UCR- unconditioned response- automatic response to a non neutral stimulus that does not need to be learnt. For Pavlov’s dogs, the unconditioned response was salivation. The key point is that animals don’t need to learn to respond to the unconditioned stimulus with the unconditioned response. (dogs naturally drool in response to food)
CR- conditioned response- a response previously associated with a non neutral stimulus that comes to be elicited by a neutral stimulus. (saivation)
CS- conditioned stimulus- a previously neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a conditioned response as a result of its association with an unconditioned stimulus. The dog which previously did nothing when the metronome played now will salivate when it plays because it knows food is coming which is a conditioned response.
Be able to explain the major principles underlying classical conditioning such as acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, stimulus generalization, stimulus discrimination, higher order conditioning, along with the terminology associated with them (e.g., different types of stimuli, renewal effect, etc.)
Acquisition- a learning phase during which a conditioned response is established.
Extinction- a gradual reduction and eventually an elimination of the conditioned response after the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous recovery- a sudden re-emergence of a conditioned response after a delay following an extinction procedure.
Renewal effect- a sudden re-emergence of a conditioned response following extinction when an animal is returned to an environment in which the conditioned response was acquired.
Stimulus generalization- process by wich conditioned stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimuli elicit a conditioned response.
Stimulus discrimination- process by which organisms display a less pronounced conditioned response to conditioned stimuli that differ from the original conditioned stimulus.
Be able to define/provide an example of operant conditioning.
Learning is controlled by the consequences of the organisms behavior. (voluntary behavior- we have control, consequences that follow the behavior, skeletal muscles)
Know what makes operant conditioning different from classical conditioning
(there are 3 ways): elicited vs. emitted, reward contingency, what the response is
dependent on (look at the table in the slides).
Classical target behavior is elicited automatically whereas operant is emitted voluntarily. Behavior is a function for classical stimuli that precede the behavior whereas operant consequences that follow the behavior. Behaviors depends primarily on classical ANS where as operant is the skeletal muscles.
Be able to describe Thorndike’s Law of Effect, and how it was discovered (cats
and puzzle boxes).
If a response, in the presence of a stimulus, is followed by a satisfying state of affairs, the bond between stimulus and response will be strengthened.
Understand B.F. Skinners addition to the study of operant conditioning (e.g.,
Skinner box, reinforcement).
To reinforce the behavior when the cat learnt to pull the string the trap door opened to the food. The response was positive and until the cat did that its negative response was to be stuck in the box with no food.
Be able to describe/define reinforcement and punishment, as well as distinguish between different types of each (e.g., positive reinforcement, positive punishment, etc.) (Tip: Table 6.3).
reinforcement - strengthens the probability of a response (increase probability of the event)
Punishment- weakens the probability of a response (decrease probability of the event)
Positive reinforcement - presenting stimulus - increases target behavior - giving a gold star on homework, resulting in a student studying more. (behavior is followed by the presentation of a stimulus)
Negative reinforcement - removing a stimulus - increases target behavior - Advil reduces cramps. (behavior is followed by the removal of a stimulus)
Positive punishment - presenting stimulus - decreases target behavior - scolding a dog to reduce its chewing shoes. (behavior is followed by the presentation of a stimulus)
Negative punishment - removing a stimulus - decreases target behavior - confiscating a favorite toy to stop a child’s tantrum. (behavior is followed by the removal of stimulus)
Be aware and understand the specifics of critical terms in operant conditioning (e.g., discriminative stimulus, extinction, extinction burst, stimulus discrimination, stimulus generalization).
Discriminative stimulus- any stimulus that signals the presence of reinforcement.
Extinction burst- shortly after withdrawing reinforcement the undesired behavior initially increases in intensity. (begging)
Stimulus discrimination- when someone is able to tell the difference between two different types of stimuli.
Stimulus generalization- similar styles of stimulus.
Be able to describe different schedules of reinforcement (continuous vs. partial), as well as distinguish between four different schedules of partial reinforcement (e.g., fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, etc.), and their corresponding response patterns. (graph for this)
Continuous reinforcement- we reinforce a behavior every time it occurs.
Parietal reinforcement- occurs when we reinforce responses only some of the time.
Fixed ratio 2. Variable ratio 3. Fixed interval 4. Variable interval
Be able to explain different applications of operant conditioning like animal training (shaping, fading, and chaining), overcoming procrastination (Premack principle), and therapeutic uses (token economies, secondary reinforcers, primary reinforcers).
Overcoming procrastination- rewarding yourself with a treat or enjoyment after doing your lists of tasks.
therapeutic uses- reinforcing appropriate behaviors and extinguishing inappropriate ones. (secondary- are a neutral objects (tokens, chips, points) that become associated with primary- primary are things like a favorite food or drink that naturally increase the target behavior)
Be able to describe two-process theory and how it involves both classical and operant conditioning (e.g., anxiety disorders).
Once someone has a phobia they will start to avoid their feared stimulus whenever they encounter it. When they do experience a reduction in anxiety that negatively reinforces their fear. This is the precise recipe for exposure therapy, the best supported treatment approach for anxiety disorders.
Describe latent learning, why it is important, and the research that has shown it to exist (e.g., Tolman’s work with the mazes).
Latent learning- learning that is not directly observable.
The rats map is similar to the directions you learnt on how to get to macewan, until you had to tell someone else how to get to macewan which was a goal or application of learning.
Describe observational learning, the research that has provided evidence of its existence (e.g., Bandura’s Bobo doll experiments), and how it how it may be connected to media violence/real-world aggression
Observational learning- learning occurs by observing the behavior of a model.
Childrens toy bobo dolls that wobble when hit have shown increased violence within children who play with it. This is learned observable behavior.
