Developmental psych - Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

A relatively lasting change in behaviour resulting from experience

Question 2

Non-associative learning

Answer 2

Habituation and sensitization

Question 3

Classical (Pavlovian) conditioning

Answer 3

• Occurs when two different stimuli come to be associated with one another. Does not require any action on the part of the learner
• A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a reflexive response because it has become associated with a stimulus that already produces that response

Question 4

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 4

Stimulus that leads to an automatic response (food)

Question 5

Unconditioned response

Answer 5

An automatic response to a stimulus (dog salivating for food)

Question 6

Conditioned stimulus

Answer 6

A stimulus that can eventually trigger a conditioned response (bell ringing)

Question 7

Conditioned response

Answer 7

Learned response to the previously neutral stimulus (salivation)

Question 8

Rescorla-Wagna model

Answer 8

• A cognitive model of classical conditioning which states that the strength of the CS-US association is determined by the extent to which the US is unexpected or surprising
• This leads to greater effort by the learner to understand why the US appeared

Question 9

Hebb’s rule

Answer 9

• Without such neuroplasticity, learning wouldn’t be possible -> that rewiring is learning

Question 10

Acquisition

Answer 10

The gradual formation of an association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli

Question 11

Extinction

Answer 11

A process in which the conditioned response is weakened when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus

Question 12

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 12

A process in which a previously extinguished response re-emerges following presentation of the conditioned stimulus

Question 13

Stimulus generalization

Answer 13

Occurs when stimuli that are similar but not identical to the conditioned stimulus produce the conditioned response

Question 14

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 14

A differentiation between two similar stimuli when only one of them is consistently associated with the unconditioned stimulus

Question 15

Second-order conditioning

Answer 15

When something is consistently paired with the conditioned stimulus, without the unconditioned stimulus, and leads to a conditioned response

Question 16

Latent inhibition

Answer 16

• The idea that it is harder for us to build new associations with familiar stimuli (ex. taco bell making you sick if you eat it every day vs. it making your friend sick who has never had it)
• Some associations are easier to learn than others

Question 17

Operant (Instrumental) conditioning

Answer 17

• Occurs when a learner operates on their environment to produce a particular result (ex. learning a trick to receive a treat)
• A learning process in which the consequences of an action determine the likelihood that it will be performed in the future

Question 18

Thorndike’s law of effect

Answer 18

Any behaviour that leads to a “satisfying state of affairs” is more likely to occur again, and any bejaviour that leads to an “annoying state of affairs” is less likely to recur

Question 19

Shaping

Answer 19

Involves reinforcing behaviours that are increasingly similar to the desired behaviour

Question 20

Reinforcer

Answer 20

A stimulus that occurs after a response and increases the likelihood that the response will be repeated

Question 21

Positive reinforcement

Answer 21

Increases the probability of a behaviour being repeated by the administration of a positive, rewarding stimulus

Question 22

Negative reinforcement

Answer 22

Increases the probability of a behaviour being repeated by the removal or avoidance of a negative, aversive stimulus

Question 23

Positive punishment

Answer 23

Decreases the probability of a behaviour being repeated by the administration of a negative, punishing stimulus

Question 24

Negative punishment

Answer 24

Decreases the probability of a behaviour being repeated by the removal of a positive, pleasurable stimulus

Question 25

The premack principle

Answer 25

• AKA relativity theory of reinforcement, grandma’s rule
• Higher probability behaviours can be used to reinforce lower probability behaviours

Question 26

Fixed reinforcement

Answer 26

Reinforcement is consistent and predictable

Question 27

Variable reinforcement

Answer 27

Reinforcement is variable and unpredictable (occurs after a varying number of behaviours, or a varying amount of time)

Question 28

Ratio reinforcement

Answer 28

Based on number of times the behaviour occurs

Question 29

Interval reinforcement

Answer 29

Based on the passage of time

Question 30

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 30

Reinforcer follows every response

Question 31

Accidental reinforcement

Answer 31

Ex. Skinner w/ his pigeons
- When reinforcement is just a coincidence

Question 32

Biological constraints

Answer 32

Animals have a difficult time learning behaviours that are incompatible with innate, adaptive behaviours

Question 33

Olds and Milner

Answer 33

• Accidentally discovered “Pleasure Centres” in rodents
• aka Intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS)
• Electrical stimulation > food, water, sex
• Willing to walk across painful electrified grid
• Will press lever until collapse from exhaustion

Question 34

What makes a reinforcer rewarding?

Answer 34

Usually results from activation of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens (mesolimbic dopamine pathway)

Question 35

Edward Tolman study

Answer 35

• Argued that reinforcement had more impact on performance than acquisition/learning
  -> Showed that rats could learn a path through a maze without reinforcement, but not reveal their learning until it is reinforced
  -> The rats were still forming cognitive maps of their environment

Question 36

Latent learning

Answer 36

The subconscious retention of information without reinforcement or motivation

Question 37

Observational learning

Answer 37

Learning that occurs by watching others

Question 38

Social learning theory

Answer 38

• By Bandura
• The general view that learning is largely or wholly due to modelling, imitation, and other social interactions
• Agreed with behaviourist ideas of reinforcement and punishment but also emphasized the role of social and cognitive factors in learning

Question 39

Bobo doll study

Answer 39

• Social learning theory
• Kids learning to hit the doll