Learning Flashcards
What is learning?
The acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, practice or study
What is classical conditioning?
Classical conditioning is the learning by association through two unrelated stimuli.
What study did Pavlov develop?
Pavlov conducted trials in which he presented two stimuli to the dog, one being the sound of a bell and the other being meat. Each time the dog would respond by salivating.
What does UCS and CS mean?
Unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus
What does UCR and CR mean?
Unconditioned response and conditioned response
What is classical conditioning advertising?
Classical conditioning advertising is a neutral stimulus that is paired with an unconditioned stimulus
Example: Neutral stimulus (car) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (image of sexy person)
What are principles of classical conditioning?
Acquisition Stimulus contiguity Contingency Stimulus generalisation Stimulus discrimination Extinction Spontaneous recovery
What is Stimulus generalisation?
In generalisation, Stimuli are generalised similarly to the original conditioned stimulus and may be a behaviour that is performed in more than one situation
Example: dog may salivate to any loud sound (bell, bang)
What is stimulus discrimination?
Stimulus discrimination occurs when an organism has learned a response to a specific stimulus and does not respond in the same way to the new stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus.
Example: dog salivating to only the sound of a bell not just any loud sound
What is Extinction?
The gradual weakening or suppression of a previously conditioned response
For example: if you have classically conditioned yourself with a fear of a dentists drill and later start working as a dental assistant, your fear would gradually diminish.
What is spontaneous recovery?
The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus
What is stimulus contiguity?
The time between presentation of the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Theory states it should be no longer than half a second.
What is contingency?
It is the predictability of the occurrence of one stimulus from the presence of another
For example a flash of lightning is usually followed by the sound of thunder.
What are the psychological interventions?
Behaviour modification
Systematic desensitisation
Aversion therapy
What is behaviour modification ?
Behaviour modification is the application of learning principles to changing behaviour. It uses operant conditioning principles such as positive reinforcement.
What is systematic desensitisation?
Systematic desensitisation. Is a type of behaviour therapy using classical conditioning and is when a learned fear or phobia is gradually extinguished
Example: arachnophobia
What is aversion therapy?
Is an unethical therapy using classical conditioning and uses an unpleasant stimulus that is paired with an undesirable behaviour in attempt to prevent the behaviour
For example: smoking a cigarette rapidly, feeling sick, not smoking anymore
Factors influencing behaviour
Characteristics of the individual- appropriate age, gender and interest
Timing- reinforcers should be presented close in time
Observational learning?
Modelling others behaviour
Factors affecting observational learning
Attention, retention, reproduction and motivation
What is learned helplessness?
Occurs when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an aversive stimulus that it cannot escape
For example: if a rat is locked in a box and the only way it can get out is to jump the hurdle but whenever it jumps the hurdle it is taken back to its original place, it will eventually learn to avoid the stimulus
Schedules of reinforcement
Cont. reinforcement
Partial reinforcement
Fixed ratio
Fixed interval
Variable ratio
Variable interval
What is shaping?
Technique of reinforcement that is used to teach new behaviours that are desired.
What is punishment?
Punishment weakens a behaviour and makes it less likely to occur
