Unit 6: Learning Flashcards
What are the two types of conditioning?
-classical and operant conditioning
What is classical conditioning?
-think of Pavlov’s dog
What is operant conditioning?
-a behaviour is modified through reinforcement or punishment
Use Pavlov’s dog experiment to explain classical conditioning. So Pavlov rang a bell every time he gave his dog food and after a while the dog would salivate just from the sound of the bell.
Neutral stimulus: the bell
Unconditioned stimulus: food
Unconditioned response: the dogs salivation in response to food
Conditioned stimulus: the bell once it caused salivation without food
Conditioned response: salivation at the sound of the bell
Describe acquisition, which is a term under classical conditioning, using Pavlov’s experiment.
-acquisition is the phase where the dog learns to associate the bell (NS) with the food (UCS) and when done repeatedly would cause the dog to salivate upon the bell ringing (CS)
Describe extinction, which is a term under classical conditioning, using Pavlov’s experiment.
-if Pavlov were to repeatedly ring the bell without presenting the food the dogs conditioned response (salivation) would weaken and disappear slowly
Describe spontaneous recovery, which is a term under classical conditioning, using Pavlov’s experiment.
-After extinction, if some time passes and the bell is rung again, the dog might suddenly start salivating to the bell once more, though likely weaker than before.
What is stimulus generation.
-if Pavlov’s dog started to salivate not just to the sound of the specific bell used during conditioning, but also to similar sounds, like a different bell or a chime
What is stimulus discrimination?
-If Pavlov’s dog learned to salivate only to the sound of the specific bell that was paired with food and not to other similar sounds
What is higher-order conditioning?
-Suppose after conditioning the dog to salivate to the sound of the bell (CS1), Pavlov introduced a new stimulus, like a light (NS2), and paired the light with the bell (CS1). Over time, the dog might begin to salivate in response to the light alone, even if the light was never directly paired with food.
What is evaluative conditioning? What is it used often in? (2)
-the dog might start to prefer or seek out the environment where the bell is usually rung, associating that place with something desirable (food).
-used often in advertising
What is the salience of stimuli?
-If the bell used in Pavlov’s experiment was particularly loud or distinct, the dog would notice it more easily, leading to faster conditioning. On the other hand, if the bell were very quiet or similar to other background noises, conditioning might take longer because the stimulus is less salient.
What is contiguity of stimuli?
-the closer Pavlov paired the ringing of the bell with presenting the food, the stronger the association
What is Thorndike’s law of effect? Use an example and also explain the concept. (2)
Concept: Behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by unfavorable outcomes are less likely to be repeated.
Example: If a child cleans their room and receives praise (a favorable outcome), they are more likely to clean their room again. If they are scolded for making a mess, they are less likely to repeat the behavior
What is the learning curve? Describe the concept and an example. (2)
Concept: The learning curve represents the rate at which a person or animal learns a new behavior over time. Early in the learning process, the behavior might be performed slowly or poorly, but with practice, performance improves.
Example: When learning to ride a bike, a child might struggle at first (slow learning), but as they practice, they become more skilled and confident (the learning curve rises).
