An introduction to behavioural psychology Flashcards
Lecture 1 (31 cards)
What is classical conditioning?
Learning that a specific event (US) follows a signal (CS), producing an anticipatory response.
What is the role of the organism in classical conditioning?
The organism passively responds to stimuli; it does not control the events.
What is the typical learning structure in classical conditioning?
• Stimulus-Stimulus
• Stimulus-Stimulus* (biologically significant)
• Stimulus-Outcome
What is instrumental (operant) learning?
Learning that a response (R) in a specific context (Sd) produces a specific outcome (Sr).
What is the role of the organism in instrumental learning?
The organism actively responds; its behaviour influences the outcome.
What is the typical learning structure in instrumental learning?
• Response-Outcome
• Response-Stimulus* (biologically significant)
How does classical conditioning differ from instrumental learning?
Classical conditioning modifies pre-existing behaviours; instrumental learning can generate new behaviours.
What is the key distinction in control between classical and instrumental conditioning?
• Classical: no control over events
• Instrumental: behaviour determines outcomes.
What is a CS (Conditioned Stimulus)?
A previously neutral stimulus that elicits a learned response.
What is a US (Unconditioned Stimulus)?
A stimulus that naturally triggers a response.
What is a CR (Conditioned Response)?
The learned response to the CS.
What is a UR (Unconditioned Response)?
The natural, reflexive response to the US.
What is an Sd (Discriminative Stimulus)?
A stimulus that signals whether a behaviour will be reinforced or punished.
What is an Operant (R)?
A voluntary behaviour that produces a specific outcome.
What is Reinforcement (Rf)?
A consequence that strengthens a behaviour.
What is Positive Reinforcement?
A response produces an appetitive (pleasant) consequence.
What is Negative Reinforcement?
A response prevents or removes an aversive consequence.
What is Positive Punishment?
A response produces an aversive consequence.
What is Negative Punishment?
A response prevents an appetitive consequence.
What are Tinbergen’s four questions about the cause of a behaviour?
Mechanism, Ontogeny, Phylogeny, Adaptive Value.
What does ‘Mechanism’ refer to in Tinbergen’s four questions?
The proximate causes of the behaviour like hormones, genes, and neural activity.
What does ‘Ontogeny’ refer to in Tinbergen’s four questions?
The influence of developmental history including learning and imprinting on the behaviour.
What does ‘Phylogeny’ refer to in Tinbergen’s four questions?
The evolutionary context and history of the behaviour.
What does ‘Adaptive Value’ refer to in Tinbergen’s four questions?
The function of the behaviour in increasing fitness.
