PSYCH CH.6 LEARNING NOTES

What is learning according to Chapter 6?

A relatively permanent change in behavior based on experience.

What is classical conditioning?

A method of learning that creates new associations between neutral stimuli and reflex-causing stimuli.

What is Acquistion?

When a behavior, such as a conditioned response, has been learned. 

What is observational learning?

A form of learning that occurs by watching the behaviors of others.

What does UCS stand for in classical conditioning?

Unconditioned Stimulus. a stimulus that triggers a response without prior learning

Ex. Dog food

What does UCR stand for?

Unconditioned response, a reflexive response to biolgically important stimulus

Ex. Jumping when you hear loud noise

Ex. Dog salivates seeing dog food as natural response

Define neutral stimulus (NS).

A stimulus that does not produce a reflexive response.

Ex. sound of bell by itself before ever pairing w/ food

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A previously neutral stimulus that eventualy triggers a conditoned response. This is due to repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Ex. Sound of bell after reperatdly pairing it with the dog food (conditioned response)

What is a conditioned response (CR)?

A learned response produced by a conditioned stimulus.

What is acquisition in the context of classical conditioning?

When a behavior, such as a conditioned response, has been learned.

What is learning according to Chapter 6?

A lasting change in behavior due to experience.

What is expectancy in classical conditioning?

The anticipation of future events or relationships based on past experience.

What is learning according to Chapter 6?

A lasting behavior change due to experience.

What is stimulus discrimination?

The ability to distinguish between similar but non-identical stimuli.

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

The cessation of a learned response, usually resulting from an end to conditioning.

What is spontaneous recovery?

The reappearance of a learned response after its apparent extinction.

What does the law of effect state?

Responses that lead to positive effects are repeated, while responses that lead to negative effects are not.

What is a Skinner box?

A laboratory apparatus used to study operant conditioning in animals.

Define reinforcer.

A stimulus that increases the likelihood that a specific behavior will occur.

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcers?

Positive reinforcers are pleasant stimuli rewarded after behavior, while negative reinforcers counteract unpleasant stimuli.

What is escape conditioning?

Conditioning with a negative reinforcer that reduces or removes the unpleasantness of something that already exists.

What is avoidance conditioning?

Conditioning with a negative reinforcer that prevents the unpleasantness of something that has yet to occur.

What is punishment in operant conditioning?

The use of a negative stimulus or withdrawal of a positive stimulus to suppress undesirable behavior.

What is shaping in behavior modification?

The process of gradually molding behavior to get a final desired response by reinforcing successive approximations.

Differentiate between primary and secondary reinforcers.

Primary reinforcers are things that satisfy basic survival needs

Ex. food, water, shelter, sleep

Secondary reinforcers are learned/conditioned reinforcer.

Ex. money, praise, tokens

What is continuous reinforcement?

The use of reinforcement after each and every instance of a desired response.

What is partial reinforcement?

The use of reinforcement after a desired response only part of the time.

Define cognitive learning.

High-level learning that involves thinking, anticipating, and other complex mental processes.

What is latent learning?

Learning that occurs but is not observable in behavior until there is a reason to demonstrate it.

Hint: child watches paret do chores without actively tryong to learn, nut later uses that ability when needed to do chores

Describe the Bobo doll experiment.

A study by Albert Bandura demonstrating that children can learn aggression through observing adults.

What is learned helplessness?

The learned inability to overcome obstacles or avoid punishment.

What is systematic desensitization?

A behavior modification technique that treats phobias through planned exposure to fearful stimuli.

Who is B.F. Skinner?

The behaviorist most responsible for developing operant conditioning theory.

Operant Conditioning

how consequences lead to changes in volluntary behvior through reinforcement and punishment

Reinforcement

make it more likely you will repeat behavior again

Punishment

make it less likely to do a behavior again

Postive Reinforcement/Punishment

addition of stimulus

Example of Postive

getting desertt after finishing veggies

Negative Reinforcemnet/Punishment

removal of stimulus