psychology Flashcards
define learning
process by which experience produces a relatively
enduring change in an organism’s behaviour or
capabilities
4 basic learning processes
non-associative learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning
what is non-associative learning
response to repeated stimuli
what is classical conditioning
learning what events signal
what is operant conditioning
learning one thing leads to another
what is observational learning
learning from others
2 forms of non-associative learning
habituation, sensitisation (happen simultaneously and compete to determine behaviour)
define habituation
decrease in the strength of a
response to a repeated stimulus
define sensitisation
increase in the strength of
response to a repeated stimulus
2 types of stimuli in classical conditioning
unconditioned stimulus (UCS), conditioned stimulus (CS)
what is unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (the unconditioned response) without prior learning (e.g. food)
what is conditioned stimulus (CS)
stimulus that, through association with a UCS, comes to elicit a conditioned response similar to the original UCR (e.g. bell in Pavlov’s dog)
2 types of response in classical conditioning
unconditioned response (UCR), conditioned response (CR)
what is unconditioned response (UCR)
reflexive or innate response that is elicited by a stimulus (the UCS) without prior learning (e.g. salivation to food)
what is conditioned response (CR)
response elicited by a conditioned stimulus (e.g. salivation to bell)
4 occasions when classical conditioning is stongest
there are repeated CS-UCS pairings, the UCS is more intense, the sequence involves forward pairing (i.e. CS -> UCS), the time interval between the CS and UCS is short
extinction of CS
drops off after a few more trials if CS alone, however after 24hrs there is first spontaneous recovery (CR is stonger than minimum drop off; if this progresses, CR decreases, but if UCS and CS are re-paired, then a very quick CR
define stimulus generalisation
tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to a conditioned stimulus (normal distribution around identical stimuli)
define stimulus discrimination
ability to respond differently to various stimuli (e.g. fear of only certain breeds of dog)
chemotherapy as clinical example of classical conditioning
chemotherapy (UCS) -> nausea (UCR); sight of chemotherapy unit (CS) -> anticipatory nausea (CR)
define overshadowing in classical conditioning
give a novel stimulus to alter CS
classical conditioning: what is the Little Albert Experiment (fear learning)
rat (UCS) -> no response (UCR); loud noise (UCS) and crying (UCR); after pairing: rat (CS) -> crying (CR)
classical conditioning: Little Albert Experiment stimulus generalisation
strong fear to rat, rabbit, dog and coat (anything furry)
2 factor theory of maintenance of classically conditioned associations e.g. fear
UCS and CS pairing following UCR to form CR; fact that avoidance has reduced fear leads to tendency to avoid is reinforced
operant conditioning: what is Thorndike’s law of effect
a response followed by a satisfying consequence will be more likely to occur; a response followed by an aversive consequence will become less likely to occur (behaviour learned and maintained by consequences)
operant conditioning: positive reinforcement
occurs when a response is strengthened by the subsequent presentation of a reinforcer
operant conditioning: positive reinforcement examples of primary reinforcers
those needed for survival e.g. food, water, sleep, sex
operant conditioning: positive reinforcement examples of secondary reinforcers
stimuli that acquire reinforcing through association with primary reinforcers e.g. money, praise
operant conditioning: negative reinforcement
occurs when a response is strengthened by the removal (or avoidance) of an aversive stimulus
operant conditioning: negative reinforcement negative reinforcer
aversive stimulus that is removed or avoided (e.g. the use of painkillers are reinforced by removing pain)
operant conditioning: positive punishment
occurs when a response is weakened by the presentation of a stimulus (e.g. squirting a cat with water when it jumps on dining table)
operant conditioning: negative punishment
occurs when a response is weakened by the removal of a stimulus (e.g. phone confiscated)
operant conditioning: what is a more potent influencer on behaviour (reinforcement or punishment), and why
reinforcement, as punishment can only make certain responses less frequent (can’t teach new behaviour)
operant conditioning: continuous reinforcement vs partial reinforcement schedules
more rapid learning, but extinguished more rapidly than partially reinforced responses
what is a fixed interval schedule
reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval
what is a variable interval ratio
time interval varies at random around an average
what is a fixed ratio schedule
reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses
what is a variable ratio schedule
reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centered around an average
operant conditioning and chronic pain behaviour
due to reinforcement of behaviour by staff by being overly sympathetic, increasing meds etc, which is likewise reinforced by patient gratitude, cycle creates where patient receives positive consequences for “being in pain”, so pain more likely to occur in frequency
Bandura social learning theory: observational (vicarious) learning
observe behaviours of others and the consequences of those behaviours
Bandura social learning theory: observational (vicarious) reinforcement
if their behaviours are reinforced we tend to imitate the behaviours
Bandura steps to successful modeling (observational) learning
pay attention to model -> remember what was done -> must be able to reproduce modeled behaviour -> if successful or behaviour is rewarded, behaviour more likely to recur
Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment
if saw aggressive attitude by adult to Bobo doll, replicated that aggression towards doll when adult no longer present
Bandura social learning theory: when is modelling more likely to be rewarded
if seen to be rewarded, if high status (e.g. Medical consultant), if similar to us (e.g. colleagues), if friendly (e.g. peers)
