Ch. 5 "Learned Motives:Classical, Instrumental and Observational Learning"

Pavlovian Classical Conditioning

A formerly neutral stimulus gains the ability to elicit a response from an organism because it has been associated with some other stimulus that reliably (and usually rather automatically) elicited that response in the past.

AKA "passive learning"

Unconditional Stimulus

Effect on behavior is unlearned or automatic

Unconditional Response

unlearned nature of this response to the unconditional stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus

A neutral stimulus (bell) developed (by association with the unconditional stimulus) the ability to elicit a response that Pavlov called the conditioned response (CR).

Conditioned response

Something new, a learned response to a formerly neutral stimulus.

Exctinion

continued presentation of the CS without the UCS, however, eventually leads to _____, a process in which the CS no longer reliably elicits a response

Experimental Neurosis

Pavlov's dogs started to show frustration once they could not discriminate shapes any more.

Not generated by the classical conditioning procedure per se but by the organism's lack of predictability or controllability.

Fear conditioning

Baby Albert and the rat (paired with loud alarm)

The formerly neutral stimulus of the white rat had become an aversive stimulus that produced both emotionality and motivated behavior

Stimulus Generalization

When a previously unassociated stimulus (new stimulus) that has similar characteristics to the previously associated stimulus elicits a response that is the same or similar to the previously associated response.

Classically conditioned emotional responses can be relatively permanent

Fear Conditioning: Experimental Neurosis

Sheep developed neurosis from almost any stimuli

Short period of time between shock stimuli produced hysteria in sheep (tonic immobility)

Desensitization

Individual can think about the most anxiety-arousing situation and still relax

Counterconditioning

Negative CS is paired with a strongly positive UCS In the counterconditioning procedure, the negative CS gradually loses its aversiveness by being paired with the positive UCS and by no longer being paired with a negative UCS.

*preferred to extinction

Interoceptive conditioning

Classical conditioning in which either the CS, UCS, or both are applied directly to the internal organs or the mucosa

Intero-exteroceptive conditioning

The CS is applied internally, while the UCS is applied externally

*dog had a balloon with cold and warm water inserted into uterus

Intero-interoceptive conditioning

Both the CS and the UCS are applied internally.

*Distensions of the intestinal loops served as a CS, which was paired with the delivery of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the lungs (UCS)

Extero-interoceptive conditioning

An external CS is paired with an internal UCS

*sound of running water when giving a urinary sample at doctor's office

Interoceptive Conditioning

Unavoidable

We carry the stimuli with us no matter where we go therefore some behaviors will result from the pairing of internal or external changes with bodily changes that occur at the same time.

It can have long term effects on our behavior

Taste aversion in rodents

It is very difficult to poison rats because, once poisoned, rats will avoid the bait that made them ill

Prepared associations

at one end of the continuum are events that can be easily and quickly associated.

Contraprepared associations

at the other extreme are associations that an organism apparently cannot learn.

Unprepared associations

between the two extremes are said to be unprepared associations because, though they can be learned, numerous experiences with the events are necessary for an association to be formed.

Preparedeness

The preparedness hypothesis argues that different species will have evolved different prepared, unprepared, and contraprepared associations as a result of the selective pressures of evolution.

Taste aversion in humans

The group that received the ice cream before becoming nauseated from the chemotherapy showed an aversion to the ice cream when offered it 2 to 4 weeks later. Neither of the two control groups showed any aversion to the ice cream.

*we associate illness with previously ingested foods

Instrumental/Operant Conditioning

Reinforcement or punishment are used to either increase or decrease the probability that a behavior will occur again in the future.

*the effect of reinforcement is to motivate a behavior

Law of Effect

Consequences of a response strengthen the connection between that response and some stimulus in the environment.

Quantity Reinforcement

Large vs small rewards

*greater quantity=better performance

Amount of Reinforcement Effect

positive correlation between amount of reinforcement and performance

Motivational effect of amount of reinforcement is short lived; it increases performance as long as it is present, but behavior is quickly reduced in its absence

Quality Reinforcement

-Quality of reinforcement also has motivational effects.

-Bread and milk vs. sunflower seeds

Latent learning

-Learning in the absence of any reinforcement

-Unreinforced rats learned the maze but did not show they did until they had the motivation to do so! (*food)

Primary Reinforcers

increase a response because of their very nature (unlearned reinforcers such as food, water, sex, avoidance of pain, and so on)

Conditioned (Secondary) Reinforcers

come to control responding because they have been associated with primary reinforcers in the past.

*air miles, subway token,

Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers

gains its reinforcing properties from the several primary reinforcements which it has been paired with

*money, praise

Avoidance Behavior

Those rats which learned to turn lever to avoid white compartment (and avoid shock) and reach the safe black compartment.

Acquired Fear

-Rats that learned to open the door and avoid shock

Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)

an organism such as a rat is taught to press a lever in order to obtain food according to some schedule of reinforcement (e.g., a fixed-interval, 4-minute schedule).

Learned Helplessness

-psychological state involving a disturbance of motivation, cognitive processes, and emotionality as a result of previously experienced uncontrollability on the part of the organism

-comes from learning that you cannot control what happens

Symptoms of Helplessness

1. Passivity (Learned Lazyness) *even when its positive

2. Associative Retardation (retardation or slowness of learning)

3. Somatic Effects (*less aggressive than regular animals)

4. Reduction of Helplessness over time

Learned Helplessness and Depression

Depression, like learned helplessness, may be caused by the belief that responding will be useless in providing relief from aversive situations