Topic 2 Flashcards
Q: What is the definition of learning in psychology?
A: Learning is an enduring or durable change in behaviour or mental processes due to experience. It is relatively permanent, causes a change in behaviour, and occurs due to interactions with the environment.
Example: A child learns to tie their shoes after practicing multiple times.
Q: What are unlearned behaviours, and how do they relate to learning?
A: Unlearned behaviours are innate (inborn or naturally occurring). They can still be modified through learning.
Example: A newborn baby automatically sucking when something touches its lips.
Q: What is a reflex, and how does it function?
A: A reflex is a stimulus-response relationship that is either learned or innate. Reflexes occur automatically and do not require conscious thought.
Example: Sneezing when dust enters the nose.
Q: What is the reflex arc, and why is it considered an unlearned behaviour?
A: The reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls reflexes. It does not require input from the brain and is automatic.
Example: Touching a hot stove and quickly pulling your hand away.
Q: What is elicited behaviour, and what triggers it?
A: Elicited behaviour occurs in response to environmental stimuli and is often automatic.
Example: A bright light causes pupils to constrict.
Q: Give three examples of elicited behaviour.
A:
Pupillary reflex: Eyes adjust to bright light.
Withdrawal response: Moving away from a painful stimulus.
Gag reflex: Prevents choking.
Q: What are Modal Action Patterns (MAP), and how do they differ from simple reflexes?
A: MAPs are species-specific sequences of behaviours that are genetically programmed and often related to survival. They are more complex than reflexes.
Example: Geese instinctively roll displaced eggs back into their nests.
Q: What is a sign stimulus, and how does it relate to MAPs?
A: A sign stimulus (or releasing stimulus) is a feature necessary to trigger a MAP.
Example: A red belly in male stickleback fish triggers aggression from other males.
Q: What is a supernormal stimulus, and why does it elicit a stronger response?
A: A supernormal stimulus is an exaggerated sign stimulus that elicits a more vigorous response than a natural one.
Example: Birds prefer to sit on larger artificial eggs rather than their own smaller ones.
Q: What are the four main types of learning?
A:
Event-alone learning (Habituation & Sensitization).
Event-event learning (Classical Conditioning).
Behaviour-event learning (Operant Conditioning).
Social learning (Observational Learning).
Example: A dog salivates when hearing a bell (event-event learning).
Q: What is habituation, and how does it work?
A: Habituation is when an organism responds less strongly over time to a repeated stimulus.
Example: You stop noticing the sound of a ticking clock after a while.
Q: What is sensitization, and how does it differ from habituation?
A: Sensitization is an increase in the strength of a response to a repeated stimulus, unlike habituation, which decreases responsiveness.
Example: Someone becomes more annoyed by a dripping faucet over time.
Q: What is classical conditioning, and who discovered it?
A: Classical conditioning is learning where a neutral stimulus comes to signal the occurrence of another stimulus. It was discovered by Ivan Pavlov.
Example: A dog associates a bell with food and begins to salivate.
Q: Define the four key components of classical conditioning.
A:
Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Triggers an automatic response (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UR): Automatic reaction (e.g., salivation).
Neutral Stimulus (NS): Initially produces no response (e.g., bell).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously neutral, now triggers a response (e.g., bell after learning).
Q: What is operant conditioning, and how does it work?
A: Operant conditioning is learning controlled by consequences that increase or decrease behaviour.
Example: A child gets a sticker for finishing homework, encouraging them to do it again.
Q: What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?
A: If a behaviour is followed by a satisfying consequence, it is more likely to be repeated. If followed by an unpleasant consequence, it is less likely.
Example: A rat presses a lever and gets food → Pressing lever increases.
Q: How do reinforcement contingencies affect behaviour?
A:
Positive reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behaviour.
Negative reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behaviour.
Positive punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behaviour.
Negative punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease behaviour.
Example: Giving a dog a treat for sitting is positive reinforcement.
Q: What is social learning, and how does it differ from other learning types?
A: Social learning is learning by observing others rather than through direct reinforcement.
Example: A child learns to wave by watching their parent wave.
Q: What is vicarious conditioning, and how does it work?
A: Vicarious conditioning occurs when an organism learns by watching another organism be conditioned.
Example: A child stops touching the stove after seeing their sibling get burned.
Q: What did Albert Bandura discover about social learning?
A: Bandura demonstrated observational learning in his Bobo doll experiment, where children imitated aggressive behaviour after watching adults.
Example: A child watches a sibling get praised for cleaning their room and decides to clean their own.
