Chapter 7: Learning

Question 1

Classical Conditioning

Answer 1

occurs when a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response

ex. neutral stimulus = the bell

other stimulus = food

classical conditioning involving fear relies on the amygdala

Question 2

The four basic elements of classical conditioning

Answer 2

1. Unconditioned stimulus (US)
2. Unconditioned response (UR)
3. Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
4. Conditioned Response (CR)

Question 3

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Answer 3

something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism

• Example: Food (For Dog)

Question 4

Unconditioned response (UR)

Answer 4

a reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus

• Salavation (Dog Example)

Question 5

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 5

a stimulus that is initially neutral and produces no reliable response in an organism

• A bell or something (Dog example)

Question 6

Conditioned Response

Answer 6

a reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus

• The salavation from the bell (dog example)

Question 7

Acquisition

Answer 7

the phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together

Question 8

Second-Order Conditioning

Answer 8

Conditioning where the stimulus that functions as the US is actually the CS from an earlier procedure in which it acquired its ability to produce learning

Question 9

Extinction

Answer 9

The gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the US is no longer presented.

Question 10

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 10

the tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period

Question 11

Generalization

Answer 11

the CR is observed even though the CS is slightly different from the original one used during acquisition

• using music instead of a bell

Question 12

Discrimination

Answer 12

the capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli

• clap of hands vs. a bell

Question 13

Learning

Answer 13

Involves the acquisition of new knowledge, skills, or responses from experience that result in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner

• Learning is based on experience
• Learning produces changes in the organism
• These changes are relatively permanent

Question 14

biological preparedness

Answer 14

a propensity for learning particular kinds of associations over others

Question 15

Operant Conditioning

Answer 15

A type of learning in which the consequences of an organism’s behavior determine whther it will be repeated in the future

fear is maintained through operant conditioning

avoiding a fear involved negative reinforcement

instrumental learning = operant conditioning

operant conditioning involves the dopamine based reward system centered in the nucleus accumbens

Question 16

law of effect

Answer 16

behaviors that are followed by a “satisfying state of affairs” tend to be repeated and those that produce an unpleasant state of affairs” are less likely to be repeated

Question 17

operant behavior

Answer 17

behavior that an organism produces that has some impact on the environment

Question 18

Reinforcer

Answer 18

any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the behavior that led to it

Question 19

Punisher

Answer 19

any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of the behavior that led to it

Question 20

overjustification effect

Answer 20

when external rewards undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior

Question 21

Fixed interval schedule (FI)

Answer 21

reinforcers are presented at fixed time periods, provided that the appropriate response is made

• scheduled exams

Slow Learning

Question 22

Variable Interval Schedule (VI)

Answer 22

A behavior is reinforced based on an average time that has expired since the last reinforcement

• pop quizzes

Slow Learning

Question 23

Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR)

Answer 23

reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been made

• every 5th box filled (at work or something)

Fast Learning

Question 24

Variable ratio schedule (VR)

Answer 24

the delivery of reinforcement is based on a particular average number of responses

• slot machines (one out of every 100, but it could come at 1 or it could come at 99 etc)

Fast Learning

Question 25

Intermittent Reinforcement

Answer 25

only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement

Question 26

Intermittent-Reinforcement Effect

Answer 26

the fact that operant behaviors that are maintained under intermittent reinforcement schedules resist extinction better than those maintained under coninuous reinforcement

Question 27

Shaping

Answer 27

learning that results from the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behavior

Question 28

Latent Learning

Answer 28

something is learned but it is not manifested as a behavioral change until something in the future

Question 29

Cognitive Map

Answer 29

a mental representation of the physical features of the environment

Question 30

Observational Learning

Answer 30

learning takes place by watching the actions of others

Question 31

Diffusion Chain

Answer 31

individuals initially learn a behavior by observing another individual perform that behavior and then serve as a model from which other individuals learn the behavior

Question 32

Implicit Learning

Answer 32

Learning that takes place largely independent of awareness of both the process and the products of information acquisition * knowledge that sneaks under the wires * example * Driving may have been explicit (focusing on doing everything right at once) to implicit (almost second nature)

Question 33

Habituation

Answer 33

a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding * example: when you first moved into your house near the airport the planes were probably really loud, but after a while you began to notice them less and less

Question 34

Pavlov

Answer 34

Classical Conditioning

Question 35

Watson

Answer 35

"behaviorism" classical conditioning "Little Albert" Fears and phobias can be conditioned

Question 36

Skinner

Answer 36

operant conditioning consequences of a behavior will determine whether or not it will happen again Skinner reinforced movements of pigeons any behavior followed by consequence will reoccur

Question 37

Bandura

Answer 37

Social Learning Focuses on the importance of observing and modeling behaviors, attitudes, and emotions * Bobo Doll Experiment * kids watch an adult beat up the Bobo doll. Kids that observed that kind of aggression where more likely to interact in the same manner with the Bobo doll * can put an non-aggressive child in an environment in which they observe aggression, and their behavior will change

Question 38

DIfference between classical and operate conditioning

Answer 38

* Classical * organism is passive * responses are reflexes * respsones are elicited * **REINFORCEMENT IS UNRELATED TO LEARNING THE ASSOCIATION ** * learning w/out being aware that we are learning * Operant * Organism is active * responses are voluntary * responses are emitted * **REINFORCEMENT IS CONTINGENT ON DESIRED RESPONSE ** * what we learn happens when we act a certain way

Question 39

Classical Conditioning Learning Curve

Answer 39

Question 40

Stimulus substitution

Answer 40

rat vs. rabbit, dog etc (Little Albert's case of being afraid of a rat which was a CS)

Question 41

Counterconditioning

Answer 41

a classic conditioning procedure for weakening a CR by associating the CS (fear-producing stimulus) with a new response incompatible with the fear

Question 42

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 42

technology that creats the situation that the person fears, while remaining in a safe environment in reality * slowly desensitizes people in a classical conditioning process * creats a higher-order conditioning

Question 43

Overjustification Effect

Answer 43

circumstances when external rewards can undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior * if you like to volunteer, getting paid to do it will make you want to do it less.

Question 44

Habituation

Answer 44

a decrease in behavioral response following repeated exposure to non-threatening stimuli (a general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in response)

Question 45

Sensitization

Answer 45

an increase in behavioral response following exposure to a threatening stimulus