Unit 3 flashcards

Learning from Behaviorist Perspective

Relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience

Association

Learning that certain events occur together, such as two stimuli or a response and its consequence

Stimulus

Event or situation that evokes a response

Classical Conditioning Learning

Associates stimuli we don’t control, and we automatically respond

Operant Conditioning Learning

Associating a behavior and its consequence

Cognitive learning

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, watching others, or through language

Observational Learning

When humans watch and learn from others. A form of cognitive learning.

Behaviorism

Psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes

Unconditioned stimulus

A stimulus that unconditionally triggers an unconditioned response

Unconditioned response

An unlearned naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus

Neutral stimulus

Stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Conditioned stimulus

Originally irrelevant stimulus, that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response

Conditioned response

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

Second order conditioning

When a conditioned stimulus is paired with another stimulus which then becomes conditioned and will result in the original conditioned response

Acquisition

Initial stage of classical conditioning where one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

Extinction

Diminishing of a conditioned response; occurs in classical conditioning when an unconditioned stimulus does not follow a conditioned stimulus

Spontaneous recovery

Reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response

Generalization

Tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus to elicit similar responses

Discrimination

Learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli

Operant conditioning

Type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reingorcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

B.F Skinner

Modern behaviroism’s most influential and controversial figure

John Watson

believed that emotions and behaviors, though biologically influenced, are mainly a bundle of conditioned responses and boasted that he could take any healthy infant and train for career specialization

Shaping

Gradually guiding behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

Negative in Operant

To remove a consequence

Positive in operant

To add a consequence

Reinforcement in operant

Used to strengthen a behavior

Punishment in operant

Used to decrease a behavior

Primary reinforcer

Unlearned, innately reinforcing stimuli, such as those that satisfy biological needs

Conditioned reinforcer

Stimulus that gains power through association with primary reinforcer

Reinforcement schedule

Pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Ratio

Number of responses

Interval

Passage of time

Continuous reinforcement schedule

Reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

Partial Reinforcement schedule

Reinforcing a response only part of the time, resulting in slower acquisition but much greater resistance to extinction

Drawbacks of Physical Punishment

Punished behavior is suppressed, not forgotten
Punishment can classically condition fear,
Physical punishment may model violence as a coping method

Biological constraints

Evolved biological tendencies that predispose animals’ behavior and learning with makes certain behaviors easier to learn than others

Latent learning

Learning that only becomes evident when there is an incentive to demonstrate it

Modeling

Process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Albert Bandura

Pioneering researcher of observational learning that was famous for the Bobo doll experiment

Vicarious reinforcement/punishment

Occurs when the behavior is strengthened or decreased based on observation

Prosocial Effects of Observational Learning

Prosocial modeling of behavior can enhance learning of communication, sales, and customer service skills in new employees. Modeling nonviolent, helpful behavior prompts similar behavior in others

Antisocial Effects of Observational learning

Abusive parents can lead to aggressive children, watching videos may teach children gender expectations, and watching violence and cruelty may foster indifference and trigger violent behavior.

Psychological Disorders

Marked by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior

Clinically significant

When thoughts emotions, or behaviors are dysfunctional or maladaptive and interfere with normal day-to-day life

Abnormal Behaviors from the Middle Ages