Chapter 6: Learning Flashcards
(30 cards)
Learning
a permanent change in behavior (actual behavior, thoughts, beliefs, attitudes)
Ivan Pavlov
(1849-1936) Russian physiologist interested in the role of salivation in digestion; measured amount of salivation via GASTRIC FISTULA; discovered classical (Pavlovian) conditioning when dogs began to associate bottle with food, and then, later, him
Gastric Fistula
tube used to measure amount of salivation in Pavlov’s experiments
Classical Conditioning
learning through association (involuntary)
(US) Unconditioned Stimulus
natural stimulus (elicits a UR naturally) Ex: food
(UR) Unconditioned Response
natural response; Ex: salivation when food is presented
(CS) Conditioned Stimulus
trained stimulus; Ex: bell-sound introduced before food
(CR) Conditioned Response
trained response; Ex: salivation at bell-sound (b/c association with food)
Extinction
If CS (that elicits CR) is presented without US, then eventually, organism learns CS no longer signifies arrival of US
Spontaneous Recovery
post extinction, organism quickly re-learns the association between CS and US (b/c learning is permanent)
Stimulus Generalization
organism responds to similar but slightly different CS (ex: different bell sounds)
Stimulus Discrimination
organism does NOT respond to similar but slightly different CS (b/c “smart enough”)
John B. Watson
(1920) behaviorist experimented with “Little Albert”; each time Albert went to touch a fuzzy, white rat, Watson hit a metal sheet with a mallard, making Albert cry. Eventually, Albert would begin to cry at the sight of the fuzzy, white rats - and anything fuzzy and white, for that matter (stimulus generalization)
Operant Conditioning/Instrumental Conditioning
developed by Edward L. Thorndike (1874-1949); exper: cats placed in “puzzle box” - had to learn to escape for food; were able to complete the task quicker with each trial;
Learning takes place because of consequences (favorable or unfavorable); (voluntary)
Law of Effect
developed by Edward L. Thorndike (1874-1949):
Responses followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated under similar circumstances
Three Types of Instrumental/Operant Learning:
1) Positive Reinforcement
2) Negative Reinforcement
3) Punishment
Positive Reinforcement
Behavior gets enforced (ex: money for chores; attention for acting out)
Negative Reinforcement
performed to remove or reduce an aversive stimulus; when a behavior that stops or reduces unpleasant stimuli is reinforced (ex: hitting the right button to turn off alarm)
Punishment
trying to correct a behavior or wanting to castigate a person or animal for having engaged in unacceptable behavior (ex: spray cat with water)
Primary Reinforcer
anything inherently pleasant or rewarding
Secondary Reinforcer
reinforcers associated with primary reinforcers
Primary Punisher
anything that is inherently unpleasant
Secondary Punisher
anything associated with a primary punisher
Shaping
using reinforcement, the withholding of reinforcement, and sometimes punishment to get someone or an animal to approximate the overall target behavior
