Chapter 5 – Learning
Quiz – 3/18
Section 1: Types of Learning
Learning – a systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through
experiences
Behaviorism – a theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors,
discounting the importance of such mental activity as thinking, wishing, and hoping
oPavlov, skinner - believe we are born w a blank slate
oEnvironment is crucial to learning
oReward/punishment
oAssociationism
oPavlov – first person to record behavior (pavlovian psychology)
Dogs – droplets of saliva
As lunch bell rang and lab technicians were getting ready for lunch
– dogs were still attached to apparatus for measurement
When dogs had food at same time – salivation higher 10 mins
before bell rang
Salivation – involuntary response
When dog got bell and steak repeatedly – dog was salivating to
the bell
Bell w no steak – dog salivating to bell without meat
Salivation to meat – unconditioned response
Salivation to bell –
Acquisition trials – how we acquire learning - pairing the meat
with the bell
Stimuli – bell, meat
Associate learning – learning that occurs when an organism makes a connection, or an
association between two events
Conditioning – the process of learning these associations
oClassical conditioning – organisms learn the association between two stimuli
Organisms learn to anticipate events
oOperant conditioning – organisms earn the association between a behavior and a
consequence, such as a reward
Organisms increase behaviors that are followed by rewards and to
decrease behaviors that are followed by punishment
Observational learning – learning that occurs through observing and imitating another’s
behavior
Acquisition trials – how we acquire learning - pair meat w the bell
Learning | A systematic , relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience. |
Behaviorism | A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of mental activity such as thinking, wishing, and hoping. |
Associative Learning | Learning that oocurs when an organism makes a connection or an association, between two events. |
Obsevational Learning | Learning that occurs through observing and imitating another's behavior. |
Classical Conditioning | Learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an innately meaningful stimulus and acquires the capacity to elicit a similar response. |
Unconditioned Stimulus (US) | A stimulus that produces a response without prior learning. |
Unconditioned Response (UR) | An unlearned reaction that is automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned Stimulus (CS) | A previously neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the conditioned stimulus. |
Conditioned Response (CR) | The learned response to the conditioned stimulus that occurs after conditioned stimulus- unconditioned stimulus pairing. |
Acquisition | The initial learning of the connection between the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus when these two stimuli are paired. |
Generalization (in classical conditioning) | The tendency of a new stimulus that is similar to the original conditioned stimulus to elicit a response that is similar to the conditioned response. |
Discrimination (in classical conditioning) | The process of learning to respond to certain stimuli and not others. |
Extinction (in classical conditioning) | The weakening of the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is absent. |
Spontaneous Recovery | The process in classical conditioning by which a conditioned response can recur after a time delay, without further conditioning. |
Renewal | The recovery of the conditioned response when the organism is placed in a novel context. |
Counterconditioning | A classical conditioning procedure for changing the relationship between a conditioned stimulus and its conditioned response. |
Aversive Conditioning | A form of treatment that consists of repeated pairings of a stimulus with a very unpleasant stimulus. |
Habituation | Decreased responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated presentations. |
Operant Conditioned or Instrumental Conditioning | A form of associate learning in which the consequences of a behavior change the probability of the behavior's occurrence |
Law of Effect | Thorndike's law stating that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened and that behaviors folowed by negative outcomes are weakened. |
Shaping | Rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior. |
Reinforcement | The process by which a stimulus or event (a reinforcer) folowing a particular behavior increases the probability that the behavior will happen again. |
Positive Reinforcement | The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior. |
Negative Reinforcement | The removal of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to increase the frequency of that behavior. |
Avoidance Learning | An organism's learning that it can altogether avoid negative a negative stimulus by making a particular response. |
Learned Helplessness | An organism's learning through experience with negative stimuli that it has no control over negative outcomes. |
Primary Reinforcer | A reinforcer that is innately satisfying; one that does not take any learning on the organism's part to make it pleasurable. |
Secondary Reinforcer | A reinforcer that acquires its positive value through an organism's experience; a secondary reinforcer is a learned or conditioned reinforcer. |
Generalization(In Operant Conditioning) | Performing a reinforced behavior in a different situation. |
Discrimination( In Operant Conditioning) | Responding appropriately to stimuli that signal that a behavior will or will not be reinforced. |
Extinction( In Operant Conditioning) | Decreases in the frequency of a behavior when the behavior is no longer reinforced. |
Schedules of Reinforcement | Specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced. |
Punishment | A consequence that decreases the likelihood that a behavior will occur. |
Positive Punishment | The presentation of a stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior. |
Negative Punishment | The removal of stimulus following a given behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior. |
Applied Behavior Analysis or Behavior Modification | The use of operant conditioning principles to change human behavior. |
Latent Learning or Implicit Learning | Unreinforced learning that is not immediately reflected in behavior. |
Insight Learning | A form of problem solving in which the organism develops a sudden insight into or understanding of a problem's solution. |
Instinctive Drift | The tendency of animals to revert to instinctive behavior that interferes with learning. |
Preparedness | The species-specific biological predisposition to learn in certain ways but not others. |