Unit 6: Learning Flashcards
Learning
A relatively permanent behavior change due to experience
Our capacity to learn new behaviors that help us cope with changing circumstances
Adaptability
A decreasing response to a stimulus due to repeated exposure
Habituation
Learning through two or more events that happen together.
Associative Learning
Behaviorism
The view that psychology should be studied only through observable behaviors that are objectively quantifiable
Founder of Behaviorism
John Watson
Classical Conditioning
Learning through a system of pairing an unrelated stimulus (CS) with a naturally stimulus/response pair. (UCS/UCR)
Operant Conditioning
Using rewards and punishments to increase or decrease behavior.
Observational Learning
Learning by observing others
Unconditioned Stimulus
A stimulus that *automatically* (no learning required) triggers a response (e.g. The food that is given to trigger salivation)
Unconditioned Response
The unlearned, automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus (e.g. salivation in response to food)
Neutral Stimulus
Neutral stimulus is a stimulus that does not trigger a response. It will become the conditioned stimulus after it is successfully paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Conditioned Stimulus
A stimulus that previously did not trigger a response, but presenting immediately before the unconditioned stimulus, triggers a response similar to the unconditioned stimulus (e.g. The bell ringing before food is given, which eventually causes the dog to salivate)
Conditioned Response
The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has been successfully paired with the unconditioned stimulus
The initial process of pairing the neutral (which becomes conditioned) stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
Acquisition
The unconditioned stimulus is paired with a new (second) conditioned stimulus - This stimulus will give a similar but weaker response as the original conditioned stimulus
High-Order (AKA Second-Order) Conditioning
The diminishing of a conditioned response due to it no longer being paired with the unconditioned stimulus
Extinction
The sudden re-occurrence of the conditioned response to the conditioned stimulus after extinction due to re-pairing with the unconditioned stimulus
Spontaneous Recovery
If, once conditioning has occurred, a person also reacts to stimuli that are slightly different from the original conditioned stimulus (e.g. Reacting to all small mammals if the original CS was a kitten)
Generalization
If, once conditioning has occurred, a person only reacts to the specific qualities of the original CS (e.g. If the original CS was a kitten, reacting *only* to that specific type of kitten, rabbits, or full-grown cats)
Discrimination
If a person (or animal) “gives up” after repeatedly being punished or failing a task, even if they could have succeeded had they tried. (e.g. Stop trying in math class after receiving several failing grades)
Learned Helplessness
Genetic qualities that make it more likely for a person to form associations
Biological Predispositions
In John Watson and Resalie Rayner’s 1920 experiment on baby Albert, what was the UCS, UCR, CS, and CR?
UCS: Loud Noise UCR: Afraid CS: White Rat CR: Afraid of white rats
What is the role of biology in associative learning?
Biological/evolutionary predispositions can influence how easily associations are made (e.g. it is easier for us to pair a negative emotion with spiders than it is for bunnies)
