Learning Flashcards
(28 cards)
Learning
A relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs. result of experience
- Can be intentional or unintentional
- Can be active or passive
Conditioning
the process of learning associations between a stimulus in the environment (one event) and a behavioural response (another event).
Example: Associating lightning with its sound (a loud boom of thunder).
Behaviourist approaches to learning
- emphasise the study of observable behaviour alone to understand and explain learning, without regard to underlying mental processes and states such as thoughts, feelings, motives and consciousness.
- association between stimulus and response
Classical conditioning
a type of learning that occurs through the repeated association of two (or more) different stimuli to produce a naturally occurring response.
A stimulus is any event or ‘thing’ that elicits (produces)a response from an organism.
A response is a behaviour that occurs after the stimulus.
Phase 1: before conditioning
in this stage, a stimulus (UCS – Unconditioned stimulus) in the environment has produced a behaviour / response which is unlearned (i.e. unconditioned) and therefore is a natural response (UCR – Unconditioned response) which has not been taught.
In this respect no new behaviour has been learned yet.
This stage also involves another stimulus (NS – Neutral stimulus) which has no effect on an organism. The stimulus could be a person, object, place etc.
This stimulus (NS) does not produce a response until it is paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
Phase 2: during conditioning
During this stage a stimulus which produces no response (NS) is repeatedly paired (associated) with the stimulus which does produce the desired response (UCS – Unconditioned stimulus).
This association is made over a number of trials.
Phase 3: after conditioning
Now the stimulus that had previously produced no response, has been associated to the stimulus that does produce the response.
When presented on its own (CS – Conditioned stimulus) to the organism, it now produces a learned response (CR – Conditioned response).
Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
Any stimulus which consistently produces a naturally occurring automatic response
Unconditioned response (UCR)
Automatically occurring response
Conditioned stimulus (CS)
Is neutral at the start as it does not produce the UCR, but after association it triggers the same response
Conditioned response (CR)
Learned response produced by CS
Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Does not trigger a response (salivation)
Acquisition
Acquisition is the overall process during which an organism learns to associate two events (NS and UCS).
The NS and UCS are presented close together in time and always in the exact same sequence (NS before UCS).
Pavlov found that a very short time (approx. 0.5 sec) between presentations of the two stimuli (NS and UCS) is most effective.
Factors that influence CC
- the Nature of the response
- the Association or linking of stimuli
- the Timing of the stimulus presentation
Nature of the response
-The UCR must initially be an automatic or involuntary response, such as a reflex response.
-the UCR occurs without the need for prior learning, and the behaviour sometimes serves a protective or survival function.
Association (or linking) of stimuli
If the individual does not associate the two stimuli, conditioning will not occur.
The reason two stimuli (that may normally have no connection at all) become linked is said to be due to contiguity.
Contiguity refers to the formation of a connection or an association between two events when the events occur close together in time and/or space.
Timing of the NS and UCS pairing
NS should be presented before the UCS and that there should be a very short time between their presentations.
Ideally, the NS should occur not more than half a second before the UCS in order for the association to be most effectively made.
Operant conditioning
a type of learning whereby the consequences of behaviour determine the likelihood that it will be performed again in the future.
involves associating stimuli with responses (behaviours) which are in turn influenced by consequences.
Operant conditioning theory
proposes that an organism will tend to repeat a behaviour (an operant) that has desirable consequences (such as receiving a treat), or that will enable it to avoid undesirable consequences (such as being given detention).
Furthermore, an organism will tend not to repeat a behaviour that has undesirable consequences (such as disapproval or a fine).
Operants
An operant is voluntary action that people and animals initiate and often perform on a daily basis.
Smiling, drinking water, listening to music, watching TV, Googling for information and liking on Facebook are common human operants.
Although operants first appear spontaneously and can be controlled by the organism, they are greatly influenced by their consequences.
OC as a three- phase process (model): ANTECEDENT
Antecedent stimulus (object or event) must be present for the relevant behaviour to occur.
Is associated with the consequence to signal whether certain behaviour will lead to a particular consequence.
OC as a three- phase process (model): BEHAVIOUR
A voluntary action that occurs in the presence of the antecedent stimulus.
OC as a three- phase process (model): CONSEQUENCE
The environmental event that occurs immediately after the behaviour (reinforcement or punishment).
Has an effect on the likelihood of the behaviour occurring again.
Punishment
The delivery of an unpleasant consequence following a response, or the removal of a pleasant consequence following a response.
