Unit 6: Learning and Behaviorism Flashcards
Learning
The changing of behavior in response to experience.
Habituates
To grow accustomed to a situation or stimulus.
Associative Learning
The association/connection of two or more stimuli, where an organism learns that certain events occur together.
Classical Conditioning
A type of learning that occurs when two or more stimuli are associated with one another (Ex: Phobias).
Ivan Pavlov
A psychologist who researched Classical Conditioning via his dog experiment, in which he associated the sound of a bell with food, causing them to salivate without the stimulus of food and only the bell.
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
A stimulus that does not invoke a response due to no association with another stimulus. This is the first stage of Classical Conditioning.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
A stimulus that elicits a natural response (Ex: savory food that might cause someone to salivate). This is the second stage of Classical Conditioning.
Unconditioned Response (UCR)
The automatic response to the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) (Ex: the salivation that occurs in response to savory food). This is the third stage of Classical Conditioning.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
The Neutral Stimulus after it has been associated with another stimulus. This is the fourth stage of Classical Conditioning.
Conditioned Response (CR)
The response to the Conditioned Stimulus (CS) (Ex: Salivation). This is the fifth stage of Classical Conditioning.
Acquisition
When a behavior, such as a Conditioned Response, has been learned.
Extinction
The gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing.
Spontaneous Recovery
When a behavior that is believed to be extinct unexpectedly and quickly returns after a period of rest or less frequent response.
Higher-Order Conditioning
The use of a strong Conditioned Stimulus (CS) with a Neutral Stimulus (NS).
Stimulus Generalization
The Conditioned Stimulus (CS) can be changed slightly and have the same effect (Ex: Bridges, Sirens, etc.).
Stimulus Discrimination
The Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is very specific and only is elicited from a specific stimulus (Ex: School Bell, Parent’s Voice, etc.).
One-Trial Conditioning
The theory that learning takes place in a single pairing of a response and stimulus and is not strengthened over time by repeated exposure to a stimulus.
Counter Conditioning
Conditioning someone to change their response from fear to excitement or excitement to fear (Ex: Wolves too scared to eat sheep).
Operant Conditioning
A form of learning in which responses come to be controlled by their consequences.
Law of Effect
If a response results in satisfaction, the response will strengthen.
Emit vs. Elicit
“Emit” is a behavior that is voluntary, while ‘Elicit” is an automatic behavior that is triggered by a stimulus.
Shaping
Using reinforcement to gradually get to the desired behavior.
Chaining
Shaping behaviors together.
Reinforcement
The strengthening of a response due to a stimulus by pairing both said response and stimulus together (Ex: Gambling).
Primary Reinforcement
Reinforcement that is biologically based (Ex: Food, homeostasis, satisfaction).
Secondary Reinforcement
Reinforcement that is socially learned (Ex: Reward for grades, looking pretty).
Positive Reinforcement
Increasing behavior by introducing something good (Ex: Verbal Praise, Attention, High Grade).
Negative Reinforcement
Increasing behavior by removing something bad (Ex:
Negative Punishment
Decreasing Behavior by removing something good (Ex: Grounded).
Positive Punishment
Decreasing Behavior by adding something bad (Ex: Scolding, Shock, Spanking).
Generalization via Operant Conditioning
When a Secondary Reinforcer is associated with a number of different Primary Reinforcers (Ex: Checking phone for notifications leads to satisfaction).
Discrimination via Operant Conditioning
When a response is only invoked by the discriminative stimulus and not to similar stimuli.
Continuous Reinforcement
When a reinforcer/reward is given every time a desired behavior is exhibited.
Fixed Interval
Reinforcement is available at a predetermined time (Ex: School Bells, Hourly Pay, Holidays).
Variable Interval
The time at which a reinforcer will be available varies around some average rather than being fixed (Ex: Weather, phone calls).
Fixed Ratio
Reinforcement depends on a certain amount of behavior being emitted (Ex: Restaurant rewards, commissions).
Variable Ratio
The number of required responses varies around some average rather than being fixed.
Scalloping Effect
A response pattern that occurs when responses start slowly but then increase in speed as the time that reinforcement is used nears (Ex: Packing up before class ends).
Resistance to Extinction
The tendency of a learned behavior to persist even when reinforcement is no longer provided.
Instinctive Drift
A conditioned reflex that cannot be taught (Ex: Racoons rubbing/cleaning their hands).
Taste Aversion
A learned response where an organism develops a strong dislike for a particular food or taste after associating it with a negative experience.
Preparedness
People are more likely to develop phobias due to evolution instead of learning (Ex: Spiders, Heights, Darkness).
Latent Learning
Learning which is not apparent in the learner’s behavior at the time of learning, but which manifests later when a suitable motivation and circumstances appear (Ex: Knowing how to somewhat drive your first time driving a car).
Cognitive Maps
A mental representation of the spatial layout of an environment (Ex: A rat completing a maze quicker each time).
Insight Learning
A type of learning/problem solving that happens in an “aha” moment through understanding the relationships and various parts of a problem rather than through trial and error.
Social Learning Theory
The idea that people learn behaviors primarily by observing and imitating others (Ex: Bobo Doll).
Four Key Processes
Attention: We have to notice it.
Retention: Remembering the incident.
Reproduction: Practice the behavior.
Motivation: If we see it rewarded we are more likely to actually do it.
Acquisition vs. Performance
Performance occurs when reinforcement is more likely.
John (J.B.) Watson
A psychologist who researched Stimulus Generalization and Stimulus Discrimination via The Baby Albert experiment, in which conditioned stimuli could be associated with a specific object/feature (a specific type of animal), but can also be associated with an entire idea or group (all fuzzy animals).
Wolfgang Kohler
A psychologist who researched Insight Learning via an experiment with Sultan the chimpanzee, who learned to fetch bananas off of the wall by stacking boxes around the room to get high enough to reach them.
B.F. Skinner
A psychologist who researched Shaping, Behavior Modification, and Schedules of Reinforcement via his Skinner Box, shaping the behavior of animals through Reinforcement (Ex: Pigeons pulling levers to feed themselves).
Albert Bandura
A psychologist who proved Social Learning Theory (learning can occur through observation) via The Bobo Doll Experiment, in which children watched adults verbally and physically abuse the doll and then proceeded to replicate the behavior.
