Psychology - Learning

Question 1

What is Habituation

Answer 1

Habituation is when you learn not to respond to a stimulus.

It occurs when the stimuli is common in the environment and when the individual benefits from being able to remain at a lower state of arousal while still being responsive to uncommon stimuli

Question 2

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 2

operate by repeatedly pairing stimuli together so that an association is learned

Question 3

How does classical conditioning work/ what is the process?

Answer 3

Unconditioned stimuli (UCS) > Unconditioned response (UCR) 
Conditioned stimuli (CS) > Conditioned response (CR) 

example:
UCS: Nipple in mouth > UCR: sucking
CS: Smell of breast. > CR: sucking

Question 4

What is the acquisition in classical conditioning?

Answer 4

The period when the behaviour is being learned

Question 5

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Extinction is when the CS no longer produces the CR

- normally occurs when the two aren’t paired together for a longer period of time

Question 6

What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

Answer 6

Spontaneous conditioning is when the CS produces the CR after previously being extinct

Question 7

What is stimulus generalisations?

Answer 7

Stimulus generalisation is when stimuli that is similar to the CS also produce the CR

Question 8

What is stimulus discrimination in classical conditioning?

Answer 8

Stimulus generalisation is when stimuli that is similar to the CS but not identical do not produce the CR

Question 9

What is contiguity?

Answer 9

Contiguity is when the introduction of the US and CS are close together in time/ space

Question 10

What is contingency?

Answer 10

Contingency is when the introduction of the CS and US are perceived to be in response to each other

Question 11

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 11

Operant conditioning establishes that humans will change their behaviour in response to reinforcements and punishments

Question 12

How does operant conditioning work?

Answer 12

1. The operant behaviour must be identified (behaviour to be changed)
2. Every time operant behaviour is performed they are reinforced or punished with a stimulus (operant response)

Question 13

What is a positive reinforcement/ punishment

Answer 13

A positive reinforcement/ punishment adds something to the status quo
Eg. Getting $5 for doing homework

Question 14

What is a negative reinforcement/ punishment

Answer 14

A negative reinforcement/ punishment removes something from the status quo
Eg. Not having to wash the dishes for getting good grades

Question 15

What is a primary reinforcers in operant conditioning?

Answer 15

A primary reinforcer is based on biological needs. Eg. food, sex, drink, avoiding pain (same across all cultures)

Question 16

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 16

A secondary reinforcer is based on association or psychological needs. Eg. money, praise, grades etc.

Question 17

What is continuous reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 17

Continuous reinforcement is when an individual is reinforced/punished every time the operant behaviour is performed

Question 18

What is intermittent reinforcement?

Answer 18

Intermittent reinforcement is when the individual is reinforced on a less consistent/frequent basis.

Question 19

What is fixed ratio reinforcement?

Answer 19

Fixed ratio reinforcement is when the individual is reinforced/punished for every X times they perform the behaviour. X = a number of 2 or more.
Example: Steve gets paid $1 for every 50 newspapers he delivers

Question 20

What is variable ratio reinforcement?

Answer 20

Variable ratio reinforcement is when the individual is reinforced/punish for every Y times they perform the behaviour. Where Y is a random number.
Example: Susan is playing a videogame. Every time she completes a match she has a 20% chance of receiving an in game reward. Sometimes she gets a reward every time she completes a match, once she didn’t get one for 9 matches.

Question 21

What is fixed interval reinforcement?

Answer 21

Fixed interval reinforcement is when the individual is reinforced/punished for every X amount of time provided they perform the behaviour.
Susan get paid $15 every hour she spends at work

Question 22

What is variable interval reinforcement?

Answer 22

Variable interval reinforcement is when the individual is reinforced/punished for every Y amount of times, provided they perform the behaviour. Y = random value.
If Steve keeps his room clean, every now and again his mum will give him $5.

Question 23

What is shaping? (type of operant conditioning)

Answer 23

Shaping works by implementing multiple stages of operant conditioning that progressively lead to target operant behaviour
It is used when operant behaviours do not occur frequently

Question 24

What is biological preparedness

Answer 24

Biological preparedness means that some people are more inclined to forming associations between behaviour and response

Question 25

What is observational learning

Answer 25

Observational learning is when people learn by observing others

Question 26

What are the steps of observational learning?

Answer 26

1. attention: learner observes behaviour 2. retention: learner retains behaviour and how to do it 3. reproduction: leaner reproduces/ trys the behaviour 4. Reinforcement: a reinforcement increases (or decreases) likelihood of behaviour being reproduced/

Question 27

What is vicarious learning?

Answer 27

Vicarious learning is like observational learning, except the learner observes the model perform the behaviour and then receive a reinforcement.

Question 28

What can impact observational learning?

Answer 28

Authority: likely to reproduce behaviour modelled by authority figure Status: likely to reproduce behaviour modelled by those we respect/ find attractive Similarly: reproduce behaviour by those we think are similar Confidence: reproduce behaviour if we are confident in our ability Ambiguity: reproduce behaviour when situation is unclear/ unfamiliar

Question 29

What are some application issues with observational learning?

Answer 29

- it might be hard to access models | - authority/status figures must be conscious of the behaviour they model

Question 30

How is learning theory beneficial

Answer 30

It can discourage maladaptive behaviours like nail biting, aggressive responses, phobias and substance abuse

Question 31

What is aversion therapy?

Answer 31

Aversion therapy is when classical/ operant conditioning is used to discourage a maladaptive behaviour by pairing it with an unpleasant stimulus

Question 32

What is behaviour modification?

Answer 32

``` Behaviour modification involves using learning theory is change behaviours. E.g. When child is given rewards whenever they behave well in class to stop them acting out ```

Question 33

What are some ethical issues in learning theory?

Answer 33

Learned helplessness involves exposing an individual outcomes they perceive uncontrollable can result in: cognitive deficit (believe outcome uncontrollable), motivation deficit (reduced desire to control outcomes), emotional deficit (fear of outcome)

Question 34

What is Rote and Motor learning?

Answer 34

Route learning involves being able to reproduce a sequence of words that have been studied. Eg. actors learning their lines Motor learning involves acquiring a complex skill, like driving a car.