psychology

Question 1

define learning

Answer 1

process by which experience produces a relatively
enduring change in an organism’s behaviour or
capabilities

Question 2

4 basic learning processes

Answer 2

non-associative learning, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning

Question 3

what is non-associative learning

Answer 3

response to repeated stimuli

Question 4

what is classical conditioning

Answer 4

learning what events signal

Question 5

what is operant conditioning

Answer 5

learning one thing leads to another

Question 6

what is observational learning

Answer 6

learning from others

Question 7

2 forms of non-associative learning

Answer 7

habituation, sensitisation (happen simultaneously and compete to determine behaviour)

Question 8

define habituation

Answer 8

decrease in the strength of a

response to a repeated stimulus

Question 9

define sensitisation

Answer 9

increase in the strength of

response to a repeated stimulus

Question 10

2 types of stimuli in classical conditioning

Answer 10

unconditioned stimulus (UCS), conditioned stimulus (CS)

Question 11

what is unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 11

stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (the unconditioned response) without prior learning (e.g. food)

Question 12

what is conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 12

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)

Question 13

2 types of response in classical conditioning

Answer 13

unconditioned response (UCR), conditioned response (CR)

Question 14

what is unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 14

reflexive or innate response that is elicited by a stimulus (the UCS) without prior learning (e.g. salivation to food)

Question 15

what is conditioned response (CR)

Answer 15

response elicited by a conditioned stimulus (e.g. salivation to bell)

Question 16

4 occasions when classical conditioning is stongest

Answer 16

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

Question 17

extinction of CS

Answer 17

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

Question 18

define stimulus generalisation

Answer 18

tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to a conditioned stimulus (normal distribution around identical stimuli)

Question 19

define stimulus discrimination

Answer 19

ability to respond differently to various stimuli (e.g. fear of only certain breeds of dog)

Question 20

chemotherapy as clinical example of classical conditioning

Answer 20

chemotherapy (UCS) -> nausea (UCR); sight of chemotherapy unit (CS) -> anticipatory nausea (CR)

Question 21

define overshadowing in classical conditioning

Answer 21

give a novel stimulus to alter CS

Question 22

classical conditioning: what is the Little Albert Experiment (fear learning)

Answer 22

rat (UCS) -> no response (UCR); loud noise (UCS) and crying (UCR); after pairing: rat (CS) -> crying (CR)

Question 23

classical conditioning: Little Albert Experiment stimulus generalisation

Answer 23

strong fear to rat, rabbit, dog and coat (anything furry)

Question 24

2 factor theory of maintenance of classically conditioned associations e.g. fear

Answer 24

UCS and CS pairing following UCR to form CR; fact that avoidance has reduced fear leads to tendency to avoid is reinforced

Question 25

operant conditioning: what is Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 25

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)

Question 26

operant conditioning: positive reinforcement

Answer 26

occurs when a response is strengthened by the subsequent presentation of a reinforcer

Question 27

operant conditioning: positive reinforcement examples of primary reinforcers

Answer 27

those needed for survival e.g. food, water, sleep, sex

Question 28

operant conditioning: positive reinforcement examples of secondary reinforcers

Answer 28

stimuli that acquire reinforcing through association with primary reinforcers e.g. money, praise

Question 29

operant conditioning: negative reinforcement

Answer 29

occurs when a response is strengthened by the removal (or avoidance) of an aversive stimulus

Question 30

operant conditioning: negative reinforcement negative reinforcer

Answer 30

aversive stimulus that is removed or avoided (e.g. the use of painkillers are reinforced by removing pain)

Question 31

operant conditioning: positive punishment

Answer 31

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)

Question 32

operant conditioning: negative punishment

Answer 32

occurs when a response is weakened by the removal of a stimulus (e.g. phone confiscated)

Question 33

operant conditioning: what is a more potent influencer on behaviour (reinforcement or punishment), and why

Answer 33

reinforcement, as punishment can only make certain responses less frequent (can’t teach new behaviour)

Question 34

operant conditioning: continuous reinforcement vs partial reinforcement schedules

Answer 34

more rapid learning, but extinguished more rapidly than partially reinforced responses

Question 35

what is a fixed interval schedule

Answer 35

reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval

Question 36

what is a variable interval ratio

Answer 36

time interval varies at random around an average

Question 37

what is a fixed ratio schedule

Answer 37

reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses

Question 38

what is a variable ratio schedule

Answer 38

reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centered around an average

Question 39

operant conditioning and chronic pain behaviour

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Bandura social learning theory: observational (vicarious) learning

Answer 40

observe behaviours of others and the consequences of those behaviours

Question 41

Bandura social learning theory: observational (vicarious) reinforcement

Answer 41

if their behaviours are reinforced we tend to imitate the behaviours

Question 42

Bandura steps to successful modeling (observational) learning

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment

Answer 43

if saw aggressive attitude by adult to Bobo doll, replicated that aggression towards doll when adult no longer present

Question 44

Bandura social learning theory: when is modelling more likely to be rewarded

Answer 44

if seen to be rewarded, if high status (e.g. Medical consultant), if similar to us (e.g. colleagues), if friendly (e.g. peers)