Chapter 4 Learning

Flashcards about Learning based on lecture notes.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience.

Behaviourist Approach

Emphasizes the study of observable behavior to understand learning, rather than mental processes.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through involuntary association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus, resulting in a conditioned response.

Stimulus

Any event that produces a response from an organism.

Response

Any reaction by an organism to a stimulus.

Association

Pairing or linking of one stimulus with another stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

A stimulus that produces no significant response prior to conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

A stimulus that produces an unconscious response.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

A naturally occurring behavior in response to a stimulus (reflexive).

Acquisition

The process of an organism learning to associate two events (NS and UCS) until the NS becomes the CS and triggers a CR alone.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

The stimulus that produces a conditioned response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The response that occurs involuntarily after the conditioned stimulus is presented.

Operant Conditioning

A three-phase learning process (antecedent, behavior, consequence) where the consequence of a behavior determines its likelihood of recurrence.

Antecedent

A stimulus that precedes and often elicits a particular behavior.

Behaviour

The voluntary action that occurs in the presence of the antecedent.

Consequence

The outcome of the behaviour, which determines the likelihood that it will occur again.

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a desirable stimulus, which increases the likelihood of the behavior reoccurring.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus, to increase the chance of the behaviour being repeated.

Positive Punishment

Addition of an undesirable stimulus which decreases the likelihood of the behaviour reoccurring.

Negative Punishment (Response Cost)

Involves the removal of a desireable stimulus, to decrease the chance of the behaviour being repeated.

Observational Learning

Learning that takes place in a social setting and involves various cognitive processes.

Model

The person being observed during observational learning.

Vicarious Reinforcement

The behaviour is reinforced by observing the reinforcement of another person performing the same behaviour.