WK 5 Learning 3

Question 1

Operant Conditioning (Instrumental Learning)

Answer 1

occurs from possible consequences of our actions

it is learning through reinforcement and punishment

Question 2

Thorndike- Law of Effect

Answer 2

probability of action being repeated is strengthened when it is followed by a pleasant or satisfying consequence (learning occurs by trial and error)

Question 3

Skinner- “radical behaviourism”

Answer 3

• reinforcement increases likelihood of response

- punishment decreases probability of response

Question 4

Difference to classical conditioning

Answer 4

c- response is pulled out / o- response is voluntary

c-reward independent / o- reward is consequential

c- response depends on autonomic nervous system / o-response depends on skeletal muscles

Question 5

Reinforcement contingencies (conditions that must be met)

Answer 5

• reinforcement must be meaningful

- reinforcement must follow the behaviour

Question 6

2 types of contingent relationships between a response and a consequence

Answer 6

• positive contingency: response causes PRESENTATION of stimulus
• negative contingency: response causes REMOVAL of stimulus

Question 7

Different types of stimulus events

Answer 7

• Pleasant (appetitive) aka reinforcement
• Unpleasant (aversive) aka punishment
• Neutral

Question 8

2 types of effects on behaviour

Answer 8

• reinforcement: causes response to increase in frequency

- punishment: causes response to decrease in frequency

Question 9

4 types of behaviour-consequence relationships

Answer 9

• positive reinforcement
• positive punishment
• negative reinforcement
• positive punishment

Question 10

Discriminative stimuli

Answer 10

in c- elicits autonomic response

in o- informs when to emit a voluntary response

Question 11

Stimulus generalisation

Answer 11

produce behaviour to similar stimulus

Question 12

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 12

doesnt produce same response as original stimulus

Question 13

Shaping

Answer 13

reinforcement is delivered for successive approximations of desired response

Question 14

Variables affecting operant conditioning

Answer 14

• reinforcer magnitude (reward has to be of value)

- delay of reward

Question 15

Frequency of reinforcement

Answer 15

reinforcement contingencies:

• timing
• schedules

Question 16

Timing of reinforcement

Answer 16

• continuous (problems= habituation or satiation)

- intermittent reinforcement (periodic administration)

Question 17

Schedules of reinforcement

Answer 17

• Ratio schedules (number of responses made)
• Fixed ratio
• Variable ratio
• Interval schedules (amount of time between reinforcements)
• Fixed interval
• Variable interval

Question 18

Types of reinforcements

Answer 18

• Primary: biological value e.g. sex, food, water

- Secondary: acquire reinforcing power through learned association w/ primary reinforcer e.g. money and grades

Question 19

The Premack Principle (Grandmas rule)

Answer 19

using desired behaviour to reinforce less desirable behaviour

Question 20

Main issue of punishment

Answer 20

Learned helplessness: no perceived relationship between individuals behaviour and punishment

Question 21

Application of operant conditioning is called

Answer 21

behavioural therapy

Question 22

Observational learning aka social learning (diff from operant conditioning)

Answer 22

learning from watching others

Question 23

the social phenomena observational results from is:

Answer 23

-social facilitation:
ones behaviour prompts other behaviour that is already in their their repertiore (yawning)

-local or stimulus enhancement:
behaviour of one person directs attention of other to an object (staring at sky)

-true imitation:
imitation of another behaviour to achieve a specific goal (behaviour never done before)

Question 24

Observational learning process

Answer 24

• attention
• retention
• reproduction
• motivation

Question 25

Social learning theory

Answer 25

• children can learn by reinforcement
• children can learn without immediate performance of behaviour
• achieved formation of a symbolic representation
• have to see someone else do it (model)

Question 26

Key features of model for social learning theory

Answer 26

-appropriateness:
aggressive male models more likely to be imitated than aggressive female models

-similarity:
more likely to imitate someone you see similar to yourself