Psych Learning Exam 3

Thordike

Examined voluntary rather than reflexive actions. Called his approach instrumental conditioning.

Law of Effect (Thorndike)

a behavior followed by a reward is is strengthened and more likely repeated

Rewards

Strengthens associations between behavior + outcome

punishment

DO NOT weaken associations between behavior and outcome.

Law of Exercise (Thorndike)

the more an act or response is used in a given situation, the more strongly the act becomes associated with that situation

Law of Readiness (Thorndike)

learners will be resistant to learning before they are ready

BF Skinner

demonstrated that reinforcement significantly impacts behavior

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

positive reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food.

negative reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock.

primary (unconditioned) reinforcers

stimuli that are innately reinforcing (no learning required), such as food, water, sex, social contact, relief from temperature extremes, drugs etc

secondary (conditioned) reinforcers

events that acquire reinforcing qualities by being associated with primary reinforcers

Effectiveness of secondary reinforcers depend on:

1. Strength of primary reinforcers

2. Number of times they've been paired

3. Contiguity of secondary/primary reinforcers

Natural (automatic) reinforcers

events that follow directly due to a behavior. When you intend to do something and get the intended result.

continuous reinforcement

a type of learning in which behavior is reinforced each time it occurs. Subset of secondary reinforcers

contingency

A possible future event that must be prepared for or guarded against; possibility

Contiguity

the tendency to perceive two things that happen close together in time as being related

Bridging

providing a stimulus immediately after a behavior that fills the gap before a consequence occurs.

Characteristics of Reinforcements

-Large reinforcements work better than small ones

-Small reinforcements used frequently can also be effective.

Depression Effect

the effect in which a shift from high to low reward magnitude produces a lower level of response than if the reward magnitude had always been low. (Think of lowering wage as opposed to always having a low wage)

Elation (Positive) contrast

opposite of depression effect

Motivating Operations

Variables in the environment that alter the relative value of a particular reinforcer at a particular time.

Olds and Milner (1954)

Injected electrodes into rats' skulls - pressing button shocked them and produced pleasure - rats continuted until they died from exhaustion

Robert Heath (1972)

The one who tried to turn the gay guy straight

Hull's Drive Reduction Theory

the theory of reinforcement that attributes a reinforcer's effectiveness to the reduction of a drive. Ex. food is a reinforcer because it reduces hunger

Relative Value Theory

The value of a reward depends on how much you want it compared to other available rewards. You have the choice between watching TV or playing video games. If you enjoy video games more, playing video games has a higher relative value to you.

Premack Principle

A behavior you enjoy doing can be used as a reward to encourage you to do something you enjoy less.

A more preferred activity reinforces a less preferred activity.

Basically, you must do something you don't want to do before doing something you do want to do.

Two-Process Theory

we need both classical and operant conditioning to explain the persistence of anxiety disorders. This one is kinda bad

one-process theory

the view that avoidance and punishment involve only one procedure - operant learning

Shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

steps of shaping

1. Select a high frequncy behavior (ex. grooming)

2. Determine target behavior (ex. hit lever)

3. Slowly change contingencies until the desired behavior is learned.

establishing operation

A motivating operation that establishes (increases) the effectiveness of some stimulus, object, or event as a reinforcer. Often depriving them of food.

Chaining

using operant conditioning to teach a complex response by linking together less complex skills

Task Analysis

The process of breaking a complex skill or series of behaviors into smaller, teachable units; also refers to the results of this process.

Forward Chaining

reinforce the first chain link until it is mastered. Then add the second chain and only reinforce when both chains are done right.

Backward Chaining

Reverse of forward chaining

creativity

the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas

learned helplessness

the hopelessness and passive resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive events. Can be avoided by teaching subject that trying to leave has a chance of working. Can be cured if LH subject watches another subject leave.

Superstitious Behavior

a behavior repeated because it seems to produce reinforcement, even though it is actually unnecessary