topic 2 Flashcards
(32 cards)
learning
an enduring or durable change in behaviour or mental processes due to experience. relatively permanent , causes a change in behaviour, occurs due to interactions with the environment
innate
something inborn or naturally occurring
reflex
stimulus-response relationship which is either learned or innate and indicates behaviour that happens automatically
elicited behaviour
occurs in response to environmental stimulus. ex. pupils constrict when exposed to bright light
modal action patterns (MAP)
species typical response patterns or “instincts” ; genetically programmed. Rather than single actions, a sequence of behaviours
eliciting stimuli
stimuli that initiates the modal action pattern
sign stimulus
aka releasing stimulus. Features necessary to elicit the response
supernormal stimulus
exaggerated sign stimulus that elicits more vigorous response
event alone learning
habituation and sensitization
event event learning
classical (pavlovian) conditioning
behaviour event learning
instrumental (operant) conditioning
social learning
observational learning
habituation
process by which we respond less strongly over time to repeated stimuli. highly specific to the stimulus producing it.
sensory adaptation
reduction in sensitivity to the sense organs caused by repeated stimulation
fatigue
decrease in behaviour due to repeated or excessive use of muscles
sensitization
increase in the strength of a response to a repeated stimulus. not specific to 1 stimulus. can result from repeated presentations of a stimulus or by arousal from extraneous stimuli
classical/ respondent/ Pavlovian Conditioning
form of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to signal the occurrence of a 2nd stimulus. behaviours are elicited by antecedent stimuli
unconditioned stimulus
biologically significant stimulus that already has a response associated with it
unconditioned response
response naturally associated with the unconditioned stimulus
neutral stimulus
a stimulus that does not naturally elicit a response
conditioned stimulus
previously neutral stimulus that comes to elicit a conditioned response
conditioned response
learned response to an environmental stimulus
Thorndike’s law of effect
if a response, in presence of a stimulus, is followed by a reward, bond between stimulus and response is strengthened, if it is followed by punishment, bond between stimulus and response is weakened
operant/ instrumental conditioning
learning that is controlled by the consequences of behaviour