Chapter 6 Learning

Question 1

learning is

Answer 1

any relative durable change in behaviour or knowledge that is due to experience

Question 2

phobias are

Answer 2

fears of specific objects or situations and often the result of another learning process termed classical conditioning

Question 3

classical conditioning is

Answer 3

a type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus - synonymous with Pavlovian conditioning

Question 4

what profession was Pavlov

Answer 4

Pavlov was a physiologist who was studying digestion, he was responsible for going from subjective testing (introspection) to empirical research

Question 5

psychic reflex experiment was

Answer 5

the dog experiment

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is

Answer 6

a stimulus that evokes an unconditioned response without previous conditioning (meat)

Question 7

unconditioned response (UCR) is

Answer 7

an unlearned reaction to an unconditional stimulus that occurs without previous conditioning (salivating

Question 8

neutral stimulus is

Answer 8

the tone

Question 9

conditioned stimulus is

Answer 9

a previously neutral stimulus that has a through conditioning acquired the capacity to evoke a conditioned response

Question 10

conditioned response is

Answer 10

a learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus that occurs because of a previous conditioning (salivating)

Question 11

hearing a dentists drill and cringing is

Answer 11

CC

Question 12

evaluative conditioning refers to

Answer 12

changes in the liking of a stimulus that results from pairing that stimulus with other positive or negative stimuli

acquisition a likes and preferences through CC

car commercial that features the SUV in a beautiful surrounding with a beautiful woman will make people like the car

cute kids and puppies to advertise an insurance brand

Question 13

immunosuppression is a

Answer 13

a decrease in the production of antibodies
animals are given a drug that causes IS along with a drink, then just the drink and they noticed that it works like CC

it can also happen with allergic reactions, and sexual arousal

researchers have conditioned quail to be aroused by inanimate objects! some of their sperm count even goes up

Question 14

define drug tolerance and overdose in terms of immunosuppression

Answer 14

in the case of drug tolerance, when people take drugs the body puts out compensatory responses that regulate the drugs effects, so if you see the needle a million times but don’t take the heroin, the body will still create the CRs based on the newly conditioned stimulus of the needle. so every time the body sees the needle it’s making chemicals to counter the drug effect, hence people need more of the drug to overcompensate for these CRs…

danger arrises when people do drugs outside of the routine… the body doesn’t create CRs becuase there aren’t any CSs o then the people take mor ebecause they think they need to, and because fewer CRs, they OD.

Question 15

Domjan and colleagues of the classical conditioning of sexual arousal in quail is similar in humans to

Answer 15

shoe and leather fetishes

Question 16

acquisition refers to

Answer 16

the initial stage of learning something

Question 17

define stimulus contiguity

Answer 17

stimulus are contiguous if they occur in time and space together

but researchers are trying to figure out why certain neutral stimuli become CS while others around do not, when there are multiple stimuli. they arrived at the conclusion that a stimulus that is novel, unusual or particularly intense have a better chance of becoming CS

Question 18

extinction is

Answer 18

the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response tendency

Question 19

the time for extinction depends on

Answer 19

the strength of the bond when the conditioning set in

Question 20

spontaneous recovery is

Answer 20

the reappearance of an extinguished response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus

weaker then when at peak CS

Question 21

renewal effect

Answer 21

if a response is extinguished in a different environment than it was acquired, the extinguished response will reappear if the animal is returned to the original environment where acquisition took place

The above two concepts lead researchers to believe that extinction suppresses response as opposed to erasing it – not unlearning

this explains relapse and why phobias are hard to get rid of

Question 22

stimulus generalization occurs when

Answer 22

an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus responds in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimuli
eg: a jewelers drill that sounds like the dentist’s drill

Question 23

stimulus generalization is measured on a

Answer 23

generalization gradient

Question 24

Describe Watson and Rayner’s work with Little Albert

Answer 24

1920

11 month old boy who wasn’t afraid of white rat, then the researchers paired it with a loud sound that was startling to him and made him fearful

he then became fearful of anything with white fur - rabbits, beards, santa claud so a wide generalization gradient

Question 25

stimulus discrimination occurs when

Answer 25

an organism that has learned a response to a specific stimulus does not respond in the same way to new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus governing rule is that the less similar new stimuli are to the original stimulus, the greater the likelihood and ease of discrimination with regard to the generalization gradient, it narrows around the original CS (smaller range of stimulus) eg: dog responds to your car pulling into the driveway to get excited because your muffler is loud so it distinguishes itself from other similar stimulus

Question 26

higher order conditioning

Answer 26

in which a conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus and triggers a CS in yet a more distant stimulus

Question 27

operant conditioning (term coined by

Answer 27

B.F Skinner is a form of learning in which responses come to be controlled by their consequences

Question 28

Thorndikes's law of effect says that

Answer 28

if a response in the presence of a stimulus leads to satisfying effects, the association between the stimulus and the response is strengthened

Question 29

operant responses are said to be

Answer 29

emitted

Question 30

reinforcement occurs when

Answer 30

an event following a response increases an organism's tendency to make that response EG: Tell a joke, people laugh, your tendency to want to tell jokes increases response = telling a joke laughter = reinforcement = telling another joke (which = another similar response to social situation)

Question 31

skinner box (also known as an operant chamber) is a

Answer 31

small enclosure in which an animal can make a specific response that is recorded while the consequences of the response are systematically controlled (not the baby box!!)

Question 32

reinforcement contingencies are

Answer 32

the circumstances or rules that determine whether responses lead to the presentation of reinforcers The if-then relationship between studying and grades is a reinforcement contingency. If you go to the movies on Tuesdays, the ticket price is reduced. That reinforcement contingency has the same if-then relationship, but it applies only on Tuesdays

Question 33

cumulative recorder creates a

Answer 33

graphic record of responding and reinforcement in a skinner box as a function of time rapid response = steep slope slow response = shallow slope

Question 34

Define shaping

Answer 34

consists of the reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response The rat doesn't know to move the lever to get food so the researchers dump food in the box if the rat takes some steps towards the lever at first key to teaching animals tricks

Question 35

resistance to extinction

Answer 35

occurs when an organism continues to make a response after the delivery of the reinforcement has been terminated parents may want this so that the student stays motivated even when his grades are low casinos want this when they want people to continue to gamble even if they are losing

Question 36

Define discriminative stimuli

Answer 36

cues that influence operant behaviour by indicating the probable consequences ask someone on a date you first get a lot of discriminative stimulus to gauge whether or not you will be accepted or rejected - her smile,, flirtation, eye contact are all DS a bird knows that worm are more readily available after it rains so rain is the DS

Question 37

does shaping exist in CC or Operant

Answer 37

operant

Question 38

What are unconditioned/primary/unlearned reinforcers

Answer 38

are events that are inherently reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs food, water, warmth, sex

Question 39

What are conditioned/secondary/learned reinforcers

Answer 39

are events that acquire reinforcing qualities because they are associated with primary reinforcers money, good grades, attention, flattery praise

Question 40

What is accidental reinforcement?

Answer 40

similar to superstition - if Skinner put pigeons in a cage and then fed them, some of them repeated the behaviour that they exhibited when they got the food the first time though it had no bearing on the outcome they call that accidental reinforcement in the case of superstition the reinforcement is most likely accidental superstition is attributed to normal cognitive biases and irrational reasoning rather than the unpredictable vagaries of operant conditioning

Question 41

continuous reinforcement occurs when

Answer 41

every instance of a designated response is reinforced in the lab researchers use this one first until the CS is in place then they can move on to the more intermittent ones

Question 42

Intermittent or partial reinforcement occurs when

Answer 42

a designated response is reinforced only some of the time

Question 43

does continuous or intermittent reinforcement lead to more resistance to extinction?

Answer 43

intermittent

Question 44

name 4 reinforcement schedules

Answer 44

fixed Ratio variable ratio fixed interval variable interval

Question 45

fixed ratio (FR)

Answer 45

the reinforcer is given after a fixed number of non-reinforced responses rat gets food every 12 times he makes the lever move salesman gets a bonus every 4 times he sells a product lower resistance to extinction short pause after reinforcement then rapid responding *i know i'm gonna get it in another 4 so i can take a little break, then go fast so I can get it*

Question 46

variable ratio (VR)

Answer 46

the reinforcer is given after a variable number of of non-reinforced responses on average a slot machine pays out 1 in 6 times but the frequency is highly variable higher resistance to extinction high steady rate without pause *cause you don't know when you're going to get it so you gotta hustle* casino

Question 47

fixed interval schedules (FI)

Answer 47

the reinforcer is given for the first response after a fixed time interval has elapsed lower resistance to extinction long pause after reinforcement yields "scalloping" effect *i know i'm going to get it in an hour so i can kill time using my scalloped shell then get back to work*

Question 48

variable interval schedule

Answer 48

the reinforcer is given for the first response after a variable interval has elapsed rat gets food after 1 min then 2 min then 4 min for an average of 2 min a person repeatedly dials a busy phone number --getting through is the reinforcer higher resistance to extinction low steady rate without pauses *abusive boyfriend and makes me sluggish*

Question 49

Define positive reinforcement

Answer 49

is when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus rat in a box and food, good grades, paycheck

Question 50

Define negative reinforcement

Answer 50

is when a response is strengthened because it is followed by the removal of an aversive or unpleasant stimulus electric shock is taken away when the rat pulls the lever, taking medication for a cold, getting out of cold weather and into your house

Question 51

Define escape learning

Answer 51

an organism acquires a response that decreases or ends some aversive stimulation turning on the air conditioner to get rid of heat leaving a party where you are getting picked on

Question 52

Define avoidance earning

Answer 52

an organism acquires a response that prevents some aversive stimulation from occurring at the idea or first signal of having to do something you don't want to do, you avoid it

Question 53

Describe the two-process theory of avoidance

Answer 53

elevator was neutral and now elicits fear so that's CS in CC the avoidance response to take the stairs is OC Mowrer's theory phobias are hard to get rid of because avoidance behaviour is reinforced every time avoidance prevents the opportunity of extinction of the phobia

Question 54

Define punishment

Answer 54

occurs when an event following a response weakens the tendency to make that response rat pulls the lever and gets shocked lowers the likelihood that he'll pull the lever

Question 55

differentiate between punishment and negative reinforcement

Answer 55

Punishment decreases some measure of the punished response. Negative reinforcement increases some measure of the negatively reinforced response

Question 56

What side effects are associated with physical punishment

Answer 56

poor quality parent child relationship, elevated aggression, delinquency and behavioral problems which carry over into adulthood but they are correlational studies, not causal so its possible that kids with all those inherent traits need spanking and it doesn't differentiate between heavy abuse and light occasional spank APA concludes that parents should not use corporal punishment based on more research

Question 57

Identify and describe the five guidelines for using punishment properly

Answer 57

apply it swiftly use punishment just severe enough for it to be effective make punishment consistent explain punishment use non corporal such as withdrawal of privileges

Question 58

Define instinctive drift. Who coined it?

Answer 58

Brelands observed occurs when an animals innate response tendencies interfere with conditioning process raccoons rubbed the coins together that they were given instead of depositing them in the piggy bank because their instinct is to wash their food by rubbing it

Question 59

Define conditioned taste aversion

Answer 59

seligman ate food got sick 6 hours later developed aversion to bearnaise sauce at first a sight of CC but there were 6 hours in between! usually CC is paired in short time interval for effect garcia discovered that food/nausea is really strong several hours apart and concluded that evolution made it this way to avoid poisonous food

Question 60

What is preparedness as it applies to conditioning processes

Answer 60

according to seligman: preparedness involves a species specific predisposition to be conditioned in certain ways and not others were more readily programmed to have phobias towards snakes spiders heights rapid conditioning stronger fear responses and greater resistance to extinction controlled in the amygdala - more built in

Question 61

describe latent learning and who pioneered

Answer 61

Tolman rats do maze and rewarded every time they complete it make learning improvement rats do maze with no reward = learnning process slower rats do maze but only rewarded after the 11th time = learning faster from 11- 17th time than group A - proves that they were making mental maps without reward reinforcement

Question 62

Identify what makes a stimulus a potentially effective CS

Answer 62

the cognitive process it has a much bigger role in people's conditioning in terms of cause and effect than originally thought if you listened to a song while studying then got a good grade, you will likely make the connection between studying and grades, not the song

Question 63

Define observational learning

Answer 63

occurs when an organism responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models you observe your friend get a good deal on a car because she is assertive at the salesperson

Question 64

4 key processes of observational learning

Answer 64

must pay attention retention of events even if it takes weeks for the opportunity to arise reproduction motivation

Question 65

Describe the distinction between the acquisition of a behaviour and the performance of a behaviour

Answer 65

Once you see the trick, particular discriminative relationships have been set up between the cards and your behaviour. You have learned the trick when those relationships have been established, even though you have not yet performed the trick

Question 66

Describe the work of Bandura

Answer 66

children witnessed adults being aggressive with a bobo doll the adults were either rewarded or punished they tended to imitate and definitely became aggressive when rewards were present concluded that kids will be more violent when exposed to violence on TV and his study affected advertising rules

Question 67

Define mirror neurons

Answer 67

are neurons that are activated by performing an action or by seeing another monkey or person perform the same action "neurons that internally represent an action" some say this is what allows us to understand others and empathize

Question 68

What is behaviour modification?

Answer 68

a systematic approach to changing behavior through the application of the principles of conditioning

Question 69

Describe the 6 steps that must be taken in designing an effective program in which you modify your own behaviour.

Answer 69

specify target behaviour gather accurate baseline data as to what you are currently doing i only exercise 1 time a week a plan the intervention program (reinforcement, antecedents and punishment) execute program then evaluate phase out

Question 70

antecedents are

Answer 70

events that precede the response I get distracted by too much time on facebook and miss the gym class

Question 71

a behavioural contract is a

Answer 71

written agreement outlining a promise to adhere to the contingencies of a behaviour modification signed in front of friends or family it can be useful to keep you from cheating

Question 72

some common pitfalls of self modification programs are

Answer 72

depending on a week reinforcer lengthy delays between reinforcement and behavior trying to do too much too quickly by setting unrealistic goals

Question 73

token economy is a

Answer 73

system of doling out symbolic reinforcers that are exchanged later for a variety of genuine reinforcers develop point system that can be dolled out later -- I have 50 clothes buying points in the bank this helps with the satiation problem of too much reinforcement