Intro to Learning (7)

Question 1

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 1

removal of aversive stimulus after a response

Question 2

What is an escape behavior?

Answer 2

behavior that puts an end to experiencing an aversive stimulus

Question 3

What is avoidance behavior?

Answer 3

behavior that prevents aversive stimuli

Question 4

What is the one process theory?

Answer 4

avoidance responses occur based on the fear of shock

Question 5

How are avoidance responses reinforced?

Answer 5

by a lack of aversive experiences

Question 6

What is the 2 process theory of avoidance (Mowrer 1947)?

Answer 6

Classical conditioning results in a fear response to a CS

Operant conditioning, negative reinforcement maintains a fear response

Question 7

How does the 2 process theory of avoidance work?

Answer 7

1. after initial classical conditioning, operant conditioning maintains phobia
2. As aversive stimulus is always avoided, little chance for habituation to occur

Question 8

What is OCD?

Answer 8

persistent thoughts/impulse = obsessions

Question 9

Symptoms of OCD?

Answer 9

repetitive behaviors carried out

Question 10

Potential causes for OCD?

Answer 10

Conditioning could be the cause.

Billet et al. - genetic predisposition

Question 11

How can conditioning maintain OCD?

Answer 11

1. obsessions increase anxiety

2. Compulsive behaviors provide negative reinforcement

Question 12

How can the 2 process theory of avoidance be used to treat OCD (3 steps)?

Answer 12

1. expose person to aversive stimuli
2. prevent compulsive behavior
3. Overtime habituate to aversive stimuli

Question 13

What is dissociative identity disorder?

Answer 13

Multiple personalities occur as different patterns of behavior are each reinforced differently

Question 14

What other name does dissociative identity disorder have?

Answer 14

Multiple Personality Disorder

Question 15

How does dissociative identity disorder develop?

Answer 15

as a result of exposure to chronic traumatic events

Question 16

Why does dissociative identity disorder develop?

Answer 16

covert avoidance response to cope with abuse, negatively reinforces behavior by reducing anxiety.

Question 17

How does dissociative identity disorder deal with distress?

Answer 17

compartmentalises it into separate personalities and experiences.

Question 18

What is the socio cognitive theory of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Answer 18

suggestive influence, demand characteristics from others can suggest to patient how to behave

Question 19

Kirsch et al had a group who was susceptible to hypnotism and a control group, what did he find in his experiment?

Answer 19

the experimental group was hypnotized when the experimenter was present and absent where as the control group was only hypnotized when the experimenter was present.

Question 20

What is positive punishment?

Answer 20

application of an aversive stimulus

Question 21

What is negative punishment?

Answer 21

removal of an appetitive stimulus

Question 22

Factors that affect punishment?

Answer 22

Delay
Intensity
Schedule
Stimulus Control

Question 23

How does Delay affect punishment?

Answer 23

at the same time or immediately after the behavior makes it effective.

Question 24

How does Intensity affect punishment?

Answer 24

More intense = more effective

Question 25

How does Schedule affect punishment?

Answer 25

continuous and consistent punishment is more effective.

Question 26

How does Stimulus Control affect punishment?

Answer 26

if the stimulus can apply to all areas of life = more effective

Question 27

3 weaknesses of using punishment?

Answer 27

1. organism may develop fear and avoidance 2. punisher may become a discriminating stimulus, rendering the punishment useless 3. Does not affect appropriate behavior

Question 28

Seligman (1967) had a group of dogs already conditioned to shocks in a shuttle box and a new group in the same box and found?

Answer 28

Old group did not try to escape where as new group did, shows that previous punishment meant the escape behavior in the old dogs had ceased

Question 29

3 benefits of punishment?

Answer 29

1. Increases social behavior 2. Improves mood 3. Increase attention

Question 30

How can punishment increase social behavior?

Answer 30

can elicit affectionate behavior

Question 31

How can punishment improve mood?

Answer 31

Distracts them from previous source of bad behavior

Question 32

How can punishment increase attention?

Answer 32

vigilance occurs, fear of punishment