learning and conditioning

Question 1

define learning

Answer 1

the activity/process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught or experiencing something

the activity of someone who learns

Question 2

define learning from a psychology aspect

Answer 2

any relatively permanently change in the behaviour, feelings or thoughts as a consequence of prior experience

Question 3

what are the 5 major learning theories in psychology

Answer 3

cognitive
biological
humanistic
psychodynamic
behavioural

Question 4

describe the cognitive learning theory

Answer 4

expectation/emotions from what you already know determine your learning behaviour - Expect a great lecture then you lead w a good experience

Question 5

describe the biological learning theory

Answer 5

your biology (brain, genetics, hormones) determine your thoughts, moods and actions

Question 6

describe the humanistic learning theory

Answer 6

individual’s desire to discover knowledge and understanding

Question 7

describe the psychodynamic learning theory

Answer 7

(Sigmund Freud) – early conscious/subconscious childhood experiences determine learning behaviour

Question 8

describe the behavioural learning theory

Answer 8

environmental stimuli influence learning behaviour

Question 9

define behaviourism

Answer 9

psychological concept: everyone is born tabula rasa (blank slate) and all behaviours are acquired through conditioning

Question 10

what are the 3 major types of learning according to behavioural psychology

Answer 10

1) Observational learning
2) Classical conditioning
3) Operant conditioning

Question 11

what is observational learning?

Answer 11

Process of learning through watching others, retaining the info then replicating the observed behaviours

Question 12

when is observational learning most common?

Answer 12

most common during childhood - kids learn from adults and peers

Question 13

what was the purpose of the bobo doll experiment?

Answer 13

Experiment to see if kids who observe violence become aggressive

Question 14

what models were used in the bobo doll experiment?

Answer 14

o Non-aggressive model
o Aggressive model + no consequences
o Aggressive model + reward
o Aggressive model + punish

Question 15

what were the results of the bobo doll experiment?

Answer 15

• Young kids imitate the violent and aggressive actions of an adult model
• Boys show more aggression than girls
• Reduced no. imitate aggression if adult model is punished

Question 16

define conditioning

Answer 16

when a subject associates 2 things that don’t normally go together

Question 17

what is classical conditioning?

Answer 17

associate an involuntary response and a stimulus

Question 18

describe what happens before conditioning

Answer 18

• unconditioned stimulus produces an unconditioned response (natural reflex)
• neutral stimulus produces no response

Question 19

what happens during conditioning?

Answer 19

• UCS and NS are carried out at the same time and produce an unlearned behavioural response

Question 20

what happens after conditioning?

Answer 20

conditioned stimulus produces a conditioned response

Question 21

what type of conditioning is emotional conditioning?

Answer 21

a type of classical conditioning

Question 22

how is the nervous system involved with emotional response?

Answer 22

involves ANS

Fight or flight response –> increased HR, sweating, weak knees etc

Question 23

what was the purpose of the little albert experiment?

Answer 23

Experiment to see if phobias can be learnt by emotional conditioning

Question 24

describe what happened in the albert experiment

Answer 24

• Albert (baby) had no fear when exposed to diff stimuli (e.g. animals)
• Albert was exposed to various stimuli + loud noise –> started crying
• Albert was then shown stimuli only and cried

Question 25

what is generalisation?

Answer 25

similar response when responding to a similar stimulus

Question 26

what is the law of effect?

Answer 26

if behaviour is followed by a +ve/-ve response, then that behaviour will be repeated/discontinued

Question 27

describe the skinner experiment

Answer 27

• Rat put inside Skinner box • Rat accidentally presses lever in cage for food/water (reinforcer) to be dispensed • Repeating the action (reinforcement) = rat gets food • Learns that pressing lever = food (conditioned) o Positive action = reward • Electric shock (punisher)  aversive consequence (punishment)

Question 28

what is extinction?

Answer 28

disappearance of learned response when reinforcement is removed

Question 29

what is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 29

reappearance of a certain conditioned response following a break period after extinction

Question 30

what is reinforcement?

Answer 30

aims to decrease a behaviour

Question 31

what is punishment?

Answer 31

aims to decrease a behaviour

Question 32

define phobias

Answer 32

unreasoning fear to a non-dangerous thing/situation associated w pain o Learned anxiety of a specific object/situation

Question 33

what are methods of classical conditioning?

Answer 33

aversion therapy, systemic desensitisation, flooding (implosion therapy)

Question 34

what are methods of operant conditioning?

Answer 34

token economy, contingency management, extinction

Question 35

what is aversion therapy?

Answer 35

patient exposed to stimulus while simultaneously subjected to some discomfort

Question 36

how is aversion therapy used in alcohol use disorders?

Answer 36

• Repeatedly drink alcohol laced w disulfarim (causes severe nausea)  temporary aversion to alcohol can occur

Question 37

what is the success rate of aversion therapy for alcohol use disorders?

Answer 37

around 70% after 1 year post treatment

Question 38

what is implosion therapy?

Answer 38

* Actual exposure to the stimulus of fear e.g. arachnophobic patient locked in a room full of spiders for 2 hours * Autonomic arousal involving ‘fight or flight’ will eventually subside

Question 39

who is implosion therapy not suitable for?

Answer 39

children, elderly or people w heart issues

Question 40

what are the benefits of implosion therapy?

Answer 40

Time and cost effective; takes a few hours + one session

Question 41

why do patients need to give consent for implosion therapy?

Answer 41

bc patients are exposed to high stress levels

Question 42

what is behaviourist's learning theory?

Answer 42

abnormal behaviour has been learned so negative behaviour can be unlearned by replacing a response (e.g. anxiety) w another response (e.g. relaxation)

Question 43

what is systematic desensitisation?

Answer 43

Classical conditioning that can be used to treat phobias by associating phobia stimulus w relaxation

Question 44

what are the stages of systematic desensitisation?

Answer 44

1) relaxation - patient taught deep muscle relaxation 2) fear hierarchy - patient creates a ranked list of fear from least to most 3) exposure - over time, patient is exposed to fears in order of the hierarchy. relaxation used to overcome fear and then they move onto the next fear. if it doesnt work then they move to an earlier step

Question 45

what is the success rate of systemic desensitisation?

Answer 45

75%

Question 46

what is the most effective method of relaxation? in vivo or in vitro?

Answer 46

in vivo

Question 47

what is token economy?

Answer 47

• Targeted behaviour using tokens (secondary reinforcer) and later exchanged for reward (primary enforcer)

Question 48

what is contingency management?

Answer 48

* Formal written contract between patient and therapist | * Outlines an agreement in the behavioural change goals, reinforcements, rewards given and penalties for failing

Question 49

describe how extinction works?

Answer 49

• Behaviour change produced by stopping reinforcing behaviour - removes response o Removing the person from the situation that’s providing reinforcement e.g. take away attention that they find rewarding  unwanted behaviour is removed