Psychology unit 3 AOS 2 Flashcards
What is learning?
The process of acquiring knowledge, skills or behaviours through experience.
Learning can occur intentionally such as when someone takes piano lessons, or unintentionally such as while watching or hearing someone else play the piano.
As a learner we can be active or passive in the process.
Classical conditioning:
A process of learning through the involuntary associations between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that results in a conditioned response.
Classical conditioning
- It is a form of involuntary learning where a subject can be conditioned without making any conscious effort to learn the conditioned response (Passive learner)
Classical conditioning model: PHASE 1
PHASE 1: Before conditioning has occurred
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) ————> Unconditioned response (UCR)
Neutral Stimulus( Tone, bell) ————>No response
Classical conditioning model: PHASE 2
PHASE 2:
Neutral stimulus followed by UCS (no meat powder) ——→ Unconditioned Response (UCR) causes salivation
Classical conditioning model: PHASE 3
PHASE 3: After conditioning has occured
Conditioned stimulus (tone) ————————————> Conditioned response (CR) causes salivation
PHASE 1:
Before conditioning (Before learning). Present the UCS and the NS seperately to make sure the UCS elicits an autmactic response and that the NS elicits no response.
PHASE 2:
The acquisition phase (during conditioning) Present the NS then the UCS repeated to form an association between the two stimuli
PHASE 3:
After conditioning (Test phase). When the NS is presented alone and a response still occurs, we say learning has taken place. The NS is now referred to as the CS- which produces the CR
Neutral stimulus (NS):
The stimulus that produces no significant response prior to conditioning
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS):
The stimulus that produces an unconscious response
Unconditioned Response (UCR):
A naturally occurring behaviour in response to a stimulus
Conditioned stimulus (CS):
Is originally the neutral stimulus that produces a conditioned response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned response (CR):
Is the response which occurs involuntarily after the conditioned stimulus is presented
Operant conditioning:
Operant conditioning suggests learning occurs through interacting with the external environment
- Behvaiour is influenced by direct and observable enviornmental consequences of behaviour→ shaping behaviour through consequences
- The learner is active as the behaviour is conciously changed or maintained in response of consequence
The three phases of operant conditioning
- Phase 1: Antecedent
- Phase 2: Behaviour
- Phase 3: Consequence
Skinner and operant conditioning
Skinner created a device called the operant chamber
Test animals such as rats and pigeons were not exposed to the external environment and could be controlled by the internal environment alone
Antecedent
Definition
The stimulus or event that precedes and often elicits a particular behaviour
Antecedent example
The owner says the command word ‘sit’ to their dog
Behaviour definition
The voluntary actions that occur in the presence of the antecedent
Behaviour example
The dog sits in response to the command word ‘sit’
Definition of consequence
The outcome of the behaviour, which determines the likelihood that it will occur again
Example of the consequence
The owner gives the dog a treat after they sit upon command. This increases the likelihood that the dog will sit on command again in the future.
What are the two different types of consequences in operant conditioning?
Reinforcement and punishment
What is the consequence: reinforcement?
A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
What is the consequence: punishment?
A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
What are the two types of reinforcement?
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
What are the two types of punishment?
- Positive punishment
- Negative punishment
What is Positive reinforcement?
The addition of a desirable stimulus, which increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
What is negative reinforcement?
The removal of an undesirable consequence, which increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring.
What is Positive punishment?
The addition of an undesirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
What is Negative punishment?
The removal of a desirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring.
what is a reinforcers role?
The aim of reinforcers is to strengthen or increase the likelihood of a response (or behaviour) occurring again.
What is the punishers role?
The aim of punishers is to weaken or decrease the likelihood of a response (or behaviour) occurring again.
Similarities between classical and operant conditioning
Both are behaviourist approaches to learning
Both require several trials in order for learning to occur.
Differences between classical and operant conditioning
Operant conditioning involves learning a voluntary behaviour, whereas classical conditioning involves learning a involuntary behaviour.
Learners are active during operant conditioning, whereas learners are passive during classical conditioning.
Social cognitive approach to learning:
- Social setting and involves various cognitive processes
- Learning occurs in a social situation and behaviours can be learnt by watching and imitating others in these settings
- Learning integrates a social and cognitive process
Stages of observational learning:
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- Motivation
- Reinforcement
Attention→
the first stage of observational learning in which individuals actively focus on the models behaviour and the consequences of the behaviour
- Learners are more likely to pay attention to models when the model is:
- Perceived positively
- Liked
- Of high status (Such as a celebrity)
- Similar to the learner
Retention→
The second stage of observational learning in which individuals create a mental representation to remember the models demonstrated behaviour.
Reproduction→
The third stage of observational learning in which the individual must have the physical and mental capabilities to replicate the behaviour.
Motivation→ The fourth stage is motivation, in which the individual must want to reproduce the behaviour.
Motivation is a cognitive process in which the individuals must desire to perform the behaviour they are observing after they have observed it.
Similarity between operant conditioning and social learning theory
Both rquire active learing
Difference between operant conditioning and social learning theory
Five steps in operant conditioning, five steps in observational learning
