CH 6: Learning

Question 1

Classical conditioning vs operant conditioning

Answer 1

classical - conditioning a stimulus to elicit a certain response

operant - control behaviour through reinforcement/punishment

Question 2

what are potential processes involved in classical conditioning

Answer 2

Acquisition, Extinction, spontaneous recovery, (sometimes) second spontaneous recovery

Question 3

What is the renewal effect?

Answer 3

An extinguished response returns once back in original environment

Question 4

What is the concept of “preparedness” related to classical conditioning?

Answer 4

That we have a species-specific predisposition to be condition in certain ways and not others (e.g., phobias of snakes/spiders are much more common than nondangerous things)

Question 5

What is Thorndike’s Law of of Effect

Answer 5

if a response to stimulus leads to satisfying effects, the relationship is strengthened

e.g., you tell a joke –> friends laugh –> you tend to tell more jokes in future

Question 6

What are the four reinforcement schedules? which one is strongest?

Answer 6

Fixed ratio
Variable ratio (strongest)
Fixed Interval
Variable interval

Question 7

instinctive drift

Answer 7

when an animals innate response tendencies interfere with conditioning (e.g., racoon washing coins instead of putting them in bank for reward)