Unit 4: Learning Flashcards
Associative learning
learning that certain events occur together. The events may be too stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)
cognitive learning:
The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language
Classical conditioning
a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events
Who is the founder of classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
Who is the founder of Behaviorism?
John B Watson
Behaviorisms
The view that psychology
1) should be an objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes
neutral stimulus
a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
Unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that unconditionally-neutral and automatically-triggers a response
Unconditioned response
an unlearned, naturally occurring response (such as salvation) to an unconditioned stimulus (such as good in the mouth)
Conditioned stimulus
an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response
Conditioned response
a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus
Acquisition
the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus triggers a conditioned response
Higher-Order conditioning
conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is aired with a neutral stimulus making a second weaker conditioned stimulus
Spontaneous Recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response
stimulus generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar response
stimulus discrimination
the learned ability to distinguished between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned response
Operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Law of effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Operant Chamber/Skinner Box
a chamber containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animals rate of bar pressing or key picking
reinforcement
any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Shaping
procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior
Discrimination stimulus
a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in context to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
Positive reinforcement
adding a desirable stimulus to strengthen a behavior
Negative reinforcement
removing an aversive stimulus to strengthen a behavior
Primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
Conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer
Fixed Ratio
reinforcement occurs after every nth behavior, such as by 10 coffees, get 1 free, or pay per product unit produced - every so many
Fixed Interval
reinforcement for behavior occurs after a fixed time, such as yearly salary promotions - every so often
Variable Ratio
reinforcement occurs after a random number of behaviors, as when playing slot machines - after an unpredictable number
Variable interval
reinforcement for behavior after a random amount of time, as in checking for a Facebook response - unpredictably often
Reinforcement schedule
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
Continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response by much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement
Positive punishment
adding an aversive stimulus
Negative punishment
removing a rewarding stimulus
Respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus
Latent learning (Edward Thorndike)
learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it
Operant behavior
Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
insight
a sudden realization of a problem’s solution
intrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake
extrinsic motivation
a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment
coping
alleviating stress using emotional, cognitive, or behavioral methods
problem-focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress directly - by changing the stressor or the way we interact with that stressor
emotion-focused coping
attempting to alleviate stress by avoiding or ignoring a stressor and attending to emotional needs related to one’s stress reaction
learned helplessness
the helplessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
external locus of control
the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate
internal locus of control
the perception that you control your own fate
self-control
the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for greater long-term rewards
Limits of classical conditioning
Biological, psychological, and socio-cultural influences.
Limits of Operational conditioning
natural selection and learning (genetic predisposition)
Taste Aversion (john Garcia)
conditioned tasted aversion (biologically primed associations) Ex: Nintendo game cartridges laced with bitter taste to prevent digestion of games
Observational Learning
learning by observing others
modeling
the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
Albert Bandura Bobo doll experiment
children acted hostile towards an inflatable clown, directly imitating the actions of an adult they had recently watched.
Mirror neurons
frontal lobe neurons that some scientist believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so (may enable both pain and empathy)
Imitation
the action of using someone or something as a model, and re-enacting their action
