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Psychology GRE > Learning & Ethology > Flashcards

Learning & Ethology Flashcards

(53 cards)

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1
Q

Albert Bandura

A

Studied observational learning

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2
Q

Breland and Breland

A

Discovered and studied instinctual drift (raccoon would not drop the coin because of a species-specific behavior patttern)

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3
Q

Charles Darwin

A

Proposed a theory of evolution with natural selection as its centerpiece

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4
Q

John Garcia

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Studied taste-aversion learning and proposed that some species are biologically prepared to learn connections between certain stimuli (rats did not pair water with shock)

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5
Q

Wolfgang Kohler

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Studied insight in problem solving using monkeys and food that was just out of reach. In opposition to Thorndike’s notion that problem-solving is trial and error

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6
Q

Konrad Lorenz

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Ethologist who studied unlearned, instinctual behaviors in the natural environment (not in a lab setting)

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7
Q

Ivan Pavlov

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Discovered the basic principles of classical conditioning

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8
Q

David Premack

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Suggested the Premack Principle: that a more-preferred activity could be used to reinforce a less-preferred activity

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9
Q

Robert Rescorla

A

Performed experiments which showed that contiguity could not fully explain classical conditioning - proposed contingency theory of classical conditioning

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10
Q

B. F. Skinner

A

Developed principles of operant conditioning

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11
Q

Edward Thorndike

A

Proposed the law of effect

Used puzzle boxes to study problem-solving in cats (believed that problem solving was a product of trial and error)

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12
Q

Nikolaas Tinbergen

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Ethologist who introduced experimental methods into field situations

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13
Q

Karl von Frisch

A

Ethologist who studied communication in honeybees

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14
Q

John Watson

A

Performed the experiment on Little Albert that suggested that the acquisition of phobias was due to classical conditioning

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15
Q

E. O. Wilson

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Developed sociobiology (how various social behaviors increase fitness - behavior as resulting from interplay between the environment and genetics)

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16
Q

Joseph Wolpe

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Developed method of systematic desensitization to eliminate phobias

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17
Q

Unconditioned Stimulus

A

Stimulus that reflexively elicits the response (aka neutral stimulus)

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18
Q

Unconditioned Response

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Response that is reflexively elicited by an unconditioned stimulus

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19
Q

Conditioned Stimulus

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Stimulus that, after conditioning, is able to elicit a non-reflexive response

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20
Q

Conditioned Response

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A response that, after conditioning, is elicited by a conditioned stimulus

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21
Q

Backward Conditioning

A

Presenting the unconditioned stimulus before the conditioned stimulus - largely unsuccessful

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22
Q

Forward Conditioning

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A

Presenting the conditioned stimulus before the unconditioned stimulus = most effective

23
Q

Acquisition in terms of Classical Conditioning

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A

Period of learning

24
Q

Extinction

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A

Presenting the CS without the UCS

25
Spontaneous Recovery
After extinction and a period of rest, the CS may produce a weak CR
26
Generalization in terms of Classical Conditioning
When a stimulus similar to the CS elicits the CR
27
Second-Order Conditioning
When a NS is paired with a CS instead of an UCS Step 1 - Regular classical conditioning Step 2 - Present new UCS just before CS, without presenting reinforcement: CR will happen with new UCS as well
28
Sensory Reconditioning
When two NS are paired together Step 1 - Pair two NS Step 2 - Pair one NS with UCS: CR should occur with this NS. Can then test for sensory preconditioning by exposing to the other NS and looking for CR
29
Contiguity (Classical Conditioning)
CS and UCS are contiguous (near) in time
30
Contingency (Classical Conditioning)
CS is a good signal of the UCS
31
Blocking (Classical Conditioning)
CS is a good signal for the UCS AND provides non-redundant information about the occurrence of the UCS
32
Law of Effect
E. L. Thorndike If a response is followed by an annoying consequence, the animal will be less likely to emit the same response in the future
33
Discriminative Stimulus (Operant Conditioning)
A stimulus condition that indicates that behavior will bring about a certain consequence (i.e. pigeon only gets food for pecking when a light is on)
34
Schedules of Reinforcement
1. Fixed Ratio 2. Variable Ratio (most resistant to extinction and produces the most rapid response rate) 3. Fixed Interval 4. Variable Interval
35
Shaping
Reinforcing successive approximations to the desired behavior
36
Flooding
Behavioral treatment based on classical conditioning where the client experiences the feared situation
37
Implosion
Behavioral treatment based on classical conditioning where the client imagines the feared situation
38
Systematic Desensitization
Joseph Wolpe Behavioral treatment based on classical conditioning where the client develops a hierarchy of fear, moves up the hierarchy and practices relaxation techniques (cannot both be relaxed and afraid - relaxation is reinforced: "counter conditioning")
39
Conditioned Aversion
Behavioral treatment based on classical conditioning where the desired but unacceptable stimulus is paired with an aversive USC
40
Contingency Management
The general name for behavioral treatments based in operant conditioning - refers to altering the consequences of behavior in order to change behavior
41
Behavioral Contracts
Behavioral treatment based on operant conditioning where two people develop a written agreement that states the consequences of a certain behavior (useful for resolving interpersonal conflicts)
42
Time-Out
Behavioral treatment based on operant conditioning where the person is removed from a potentially reinforcing situation before they can be reinforced for undesirable behavior
43
Token Economies
Behavioral treatment based on operant conditioning where tokens are given or taken for good or bad behavior and can be traded in for a larger reward
44
Premack Principle
Behavioral treatment based on operant conditioning that involves using a more-preferred activity to reinforce a less-preferred activity
45
Challenges to Behaviorists
1. Problem solving and insight (Thorndike and Kohler) 2. Cognitive maps (Tolman - animals have mental maps of physical spaces) 3. Observational learning (Bandura) 4. Preparedness (Garcia) 5. Instinctual drift (Breland and Breland - instinctual ways of behaving can override conditioning)
46
Fixed-Action Pattern
Stereotyped behavior sequence that is not learned
47
Sign Stimuli
Features of a stimulus sufficient to bring about a fixed-action pattern - Releaser = a sign stimulus that triggers social behaviors between animals - Supernormal stimulus = a model more effective at triggering a fixed-action pattern than actual sign stimuli found in nature
48
Innate Releasing Mechanism
A mechanism in an animal's NS that connects sign stimuli with the correct fixed-action pattern
49
Reproductive Isolating Mechanism
Behaviors that prevent members of closely related species from mating. Only exist in areas where closely related species are both in the same area (i.e. species-specific call of birds to attract mates)
50
Reproductive Fitness
The number of offspring that live to be old enough to reproduce
51
Altruism (Ethology)
Behavior that decreases reproductive fitness to help others of the same species
52
Theory of Kin Selection
Inclusive fitness - will tr to maximize both numbers of other relatives and numbers of offspring who live to a reproductive age (explains altruism)
53
Long-Term Potentiation
Long-term increase in responsiveness of a neuron due to experience. Explains classical conditioning at the neural level

Psychology GRE (10 decks)

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