C6: Learning Process Flashcards
What is the definition of learning?
The process by which a behavior is acquired, omitted or changed as a result of experience
What is learning by imprinting?
a kind of learning in the very young based mainly on maternal attachment and
acquisition of basic behavioural patterns
What is learning by socialization?
process of exposure
What is learning by habituation?
Learning that can further be divided into desensitization and flooding. The response to a new stimulus weakens with repeated exposures, however, habituation can disappear if not exposed for a period of time. Involves no rewards.
What is Operant Conditioning?
Also referred to as “trial and error learning”. If an action is rewarded, the animal is more likely to do it again. If an action is punished, the animal is less likely to repeat it.
Who first demonstrated operant conditioning?
Thorndike
What is Classical Conditioning?
Has 4 components:
1. Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
- a stimulus that will cause a reflex response
2. Unconditioned Responses (UCR)
- reflex response
3. Paired with a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
- an unrelated stimulus that would not normally give any response is paired with the UCS
4. Animal’s Conditioned Response (CR)
- animal learns the association between the UCS with the CS so when the CS is presented a conditioned response is seen
Who first demonstrated classical conditioning?
Pavlov, with dogs
What is Positive Reinforcement?
A pleasant or desirable reward given
What is Negative Reinforcement?
Decreasing or increasing an action by removing an unpleasant stimulus, i.e. a shock collar.
What is Continuous Reinforcement?
Each correct action is rewarded for rapid learning process, however, the animal may “decide” not to comply
What is Intermittent Reinforcement?
Once a trick is learned, reward frequency decreases and rewards are given irregularly. Makes the dog work harder for a reward
What is successive approximation?
Teaching animals to learn certain tricks or skills by shaping their behaviour. Involves breaking down the skill into smaller steps, and then rewarding the animal for each step
What does chaining behaviours mean?
Grouping a number of different behavioural patterns together in a sequence, starting with the last action first, and working backwards.
What does Extinction mean?
The loss of a learned behaviour which occurs when a stimulus/reward is permanently withdrawn
What is Positive Punishment?
The giving of an aversive or unpleasant stimulus, after or during a response that leads to decrease in the frequency of the behaviour
What is Negative Punishment?
The removal of something that the animal wants, with a goal of decreasing the
frequency of the behavior
What are the critical factors in punishment?
- must be immediate
- must be at the same time
- must be with enough force to stop the act, but not so much that it will create fear
What does the level of response of an animal to punishment depend on?
- temperament
- previous experience
- contingency—must be caught in the act
- repeated use; may get used to it
- schedules; must be every time the act is done
- alternative response—providing animal with alternate behavior for which he/she can be rewarded is much more effective
What is Aversive Conditioning?
Having punishments come from the environment rather than the owner i.e. blasting water from a hose onto a dog digging
What is flooding?
One type of Habituation. Over expose the animal to the stimuli that is causing the undesired behaviour, often leads to a phobia
What is Systematic Desensitization?
One type of Habituation. A decrease in a response that is produced by gradual exposure to a stimulus that elicits a response.
What is Counter Conditioning?
Negative or undesirable behaviour is extinguished or controlled by teaching the
animal to do another behaviour that competitively interferes with the execution of the undesirable behaviour.
What is Drug Desensitization?
Tranquilizers or sedatives used to reduce the dog’s sensitivity to stimuli and make them more apt to respond to basic training
