L4- learning and behaviour Flashcards
What is the definition inition of learning?
An adaptive process, which is driven by experience and inferred from changes in behaviour (behaviourism).
What is habituation ?
It is an orientating response, which is our automatic response to sudden and unexpected events.
This is initial and strong. For example, when we put clothes on we can feel them against our bodies. But after time the event decreases due to the increase of exposure frequency. If i wear a piece of clothing for two hours then i no longer can feel this. (Increase of frequency).
What is classical conditioning? What study relates to classical conditioning?
When we condition our/ someones response.
Individuals learn that within certain conditions, they can predict a specific outcome through their association.
Pavlovs dogs salvation study shows classical conditioning.
Little Albert was made scared of rats
What is operant conditioning?what studies relate to this?
When an organism learns environment- behaviour relations by responding to/ operating on the environment.
When performing a certain behaviour we will receive either a bad or good consequence. Which will condition our actions taken in the future.
Thorndikes puzzle box:
We learn by trial and accidental success.
Law of the effect:favourable outcome will increase the behaviour and inverse for unfavourable outcome.
Skinners operant conditioning box for rats. Pushing a lever was a learned behaviour in order to have a good consequence of food.
What is extinction within classical condtioning?
When the conditioned response is eliminated when the conditioned stimulus is no longer followed upon the individuals response.
For example, pavlovs dogs, if they heard the bell but received no food. As the reward was not given, they will stop the conditioned response of salivation.
What is acquisition within classical conditioning
A conditional response which only appears after a repeated conditioned- unconditioned pairing.
When the food and bell appear at the same time within Pavlovs experiment is acquisition.
What is a spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?
This is when a conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus pairing is reintroduced. This makes the acquisition of the conditioned response, faster than it was in the initial learning phase.
In regards to Pavlovs dogs. If the dog heard a bell and received no food, extinction occurred. But then the bell is accompanied by the food, which means the conditioned response comes back faster than initially. Making a spontaneous recovery of the classical conditioning.
What is generalisation and discirmination in regards to classical conditioning?
This is when stimuli which is similar to the conditioned stimulus is present. This elicits the conditioned response
In regards to pavlovs dogs, a different bell will elicit the same conditioned response (salivation)
Discrimination is the ability to distinguish one stimulus to another. Even if these are similar.
In pavlovs dogs, this is if a trumpet was played instead of a bell. The dog will not salivate.
What happened after behaviourism?
At first, it was seen as stimulus and response terms. But over time a change in thinking has happened. Where cognitive processes are now considered.
For example, hulls intervening variables was considered after behaviourism and Tolmans cognitive maps.
What is Hulls intervening variables and when was this theory made?
Made after behaviourism
This theory was complex and followed a computational approach, with mathematical specifications of predictions about behaviour.
It said that there was intervening variables. Which were unobserved variables that moderate the stimulus and response relationship.
There are two main intervening variables, habit strength and drive.
Habit strength is the strength of previously learned stimulus-response connections after reinforced practise. So the greater the number of times a response was followed by reinforcement, the greater habit strength.
Drive is a temporary state of deprivation that motivates an organism to seek reward/ stimulation. The greater the reward the greater the reduction is of drive
What is Tolmans cognitive maps and when was this made?
After behaviourism
This view was that a theory of behaviour should consider the cognitive variables which intercede between stimulus and response once. Our thoughts, beliefs, motivation to succeed etc are all important detriments of our response to a stimulus.
Our behaviour has a purpose, which was executed to achieve a goal
Tolmans study with rats has a range of tunnels for them to get to the food. Once the rat learnt the tunnel to get to the food. This was chnaged and the tunnel was removed. The rat then did not take the same route previously learnt but instead to a short cut in the direction of the food. This shows they learnt cognitive map, of routes and chose the shortest one to get to their goal quicker.
Did not consider the smell of food took the rat to it. But still important as it rejects the stimulus reward approach of behaviourism
What are the five consequences of operant behaviour and what do these each mean?
Positive reinforcement
=increasing the frequency of the response when consequence is pleasant.
Negative reinforcement
=increasing the frequency of response by removing aversive stimulus
Punishment (positive punishment)
= decrease frequency of response when followed by aversive stimulus
Response cost(Negative punishment) =decrease in frequency by removing appetitive stimulus
Extinction
=decrease in frequency of previously reinforced response if no longer reinforced
What is shaping in terms of operant conditioning?
Teaching of new and complex behaviours by reinforcing closer and close approximations of the desired behaviour.
What are primary and secondary reinforcers and punishers in operant conditioning?
Primary reinforcers are biologically significant such as food. Primary punishers are biologically significant such as pain
Secondary reinforcers: associated to primary. Well help you get that primary. E.g money is a secondary reinforcer. A secondary punisher is a police siren
In operant conditioning, what is intermittent reinforcement?
When not all responses are reinforced; but depend on a particular schedule.
Probability based schedule
=Fixed or variable (on average) ratios
Time based schedules
=fixed or variable intervals of time
