Theories of learning and the behaviorists - exam 1

Question 1

Define learning

Answer 1

• learning is studied objectively by looking at behavior
• learning involves a change in behavior
• learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience.
• allows us to adapt to our environment

Question 2

define equipotent

Answer 2

principles of learning apply to any behavior and all organisms

Question 3

what is classical/associative learning

Answer 3

• we learn association between events
• we anticipate important events
• the stimulus happens first the behavior follows
• the stimulus elicits the response

Question 4

Ivan Pavlov - dogs

Answer 4

• studied asscoiative or classical conditioning
• noticed dogs began salvating before seeing their food, he found he contitioned them to expect food from neutral stimulus

Question 5

John B. Watson- little albert experiment

Question 6

what is classical conditioning

Question 7

what constitutes a reflex

Answer 7

unconditioned stimulus plus unconditioned response

Question 8

what is an aquisition/learning trial

Answer 8

• learning of the stimulus: response relationship
• pair a neutral stimulus with UCS. NS must precede the UCS. best if time interval is short. NS will become condtioned (conditioned stimulus)

Question 9

Examples of UCS, UCR, CS, and CR in pavlovs experiment

Question 10

what is extinction

Answer 10

lessening of a conditioned response. For classical it occurs when the CS is repeatedly presented without the the UCS. For operant it happens when the behavior is no longer reinforced

Question 11

what is spontaneous recovery

Answer 11

Reappearance of an extinguished response after a rest period

Question 12

what is generalization

Answer 12

stimuli that are similar to the CS will evoke some level of the CR

Question 13

what is discrimination

Answer 13

the ability to distinguish one stimulu from another, responding only to the CS

Question 14

what is operant conditioning

Answer 14

the process of aquiring new, voluntary (and relatively enduring) behaviors through experience

Question 15

how is operant conditioning different than classical conditioning

Question 16

who is Edward Thorndike and what is his Law of Effect

Question 17

edward thorndike and cats?

Question 18

Who was B.F. Skinner

Question 19

what is the skinner box and what does it have to do with rats and pigeons

Question 20

what is shaping and relate it to the pigeon video

Question 21

what is reinforcement - both positive and negative

Answer 21

reinforcement makes behavior more likely to occur. strengthens the response. increases the rate of operant responding.
positive reinforcement: application of rewated
negative reinforcement: removal of something aversive

Question 22

what is punishment - both positive and negative

Answer 22

Punishment decreases behavior
positive punishment: application of something aversive
negative punishment: removal of something good

Question 23

what is continuous reinforcement

Answer 23

• reinforcing every response
• rapid acquisition: increases number of responses are made and less time is taken between responses - positively accelerated
• use when first learning new behavior

Question 24

what is partial reinforcement

Answer 24

• reinforcing only some responses
• best if unpredictable
• use to maintain behavior (precent extinction)
• ratio or interval

Question 25

what is ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 25

• number
• dependent on amount of work
• fixed ratio: set number of responses (punch card)
• variable ratio: unpredictable number of responses (slot machine)

Question 26

what is interval reinforcement

Answer 26

• dependent on time that has passed and a response being made
• fixed interval: fixed time period (pain meds or pay day)
• variable: varying time periods (unannounced pop quiz)

Question 27

what is fixed reinforcement

Answer 27

set amount of something

Question 28

what is variable reinforcement

Answer 28

unpredictable

Question 29

what is a typical responding pattern of each reinforcement schedule

Question 30

what are some punishment guidelines

Question 31

what is the premack principle

Question 32

what are the ABCs of operant conditioning

Answer 32

A: antecedent
- environmental stimuli and events that precede the behavior
B: behavior
- specific responses the individual makes
C: consequence:
- stimuli and events immediately following the behavior

Question 33

what is token economy and an example

Answer 33

• items that can be traded for a reinforcer.
• each token is a step toward a reinforcer
• examples: chart with stars, poker chips, point system

Question 34

what is ABA and an example

Question 35

what is cognitive behavioral therapy

Question 36

what is systematic desensitization

Question 37

what is observational learning

Answer 37

• behaviors aquired through observing and modeling others

Question 38

who was albert bandura and what experiment did he do

Question 39

what happened in the bobo doll experiment

Question 40

what is modeling

Answer 40

• a person demonstrating their behavior
• imitating a behavior after observing it

Question 41

what is vicarious reinforcement

Answer 41

• model is rewarded

Question 42

what is vicarious punishment

Answer 42

model is punished

Question 43

what is latent learning