Psychology of Learning and Conditioning

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from a lecture on learning theories, including behaviorism, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning.

What is learning?

The process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in behaviour or capabilities.

Difference between 'knowing how' and 'doing' in learning.

'Knowing how' refers to the process of learning, while 'doing' refers to performance.

Who is associated with the behavioral approach to learning?

John Watson is known for his work in behaviorism and the Little Albert experiment.

How did ethology contribute to our understanding of learning?

Ethology focused on animal behaviour in natural environments and the functions of behaviour.

What does habituation refer to?

A decrease in response strength to a repeated stimulus.

What is classical conditioning?

Associating one stimulus with another to elicit a response.

Who first studied classical conditioning and what was the primary subject?

Ivan Pavlov studied salivary responses in dogs.

What is the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus that elicits a reflective or innate response without prior learning.

What is the difference between an Unconditioned Response (UCR) and a Conditioned Response (CR)?

UCR is the natural response elicited by the UCS, whereas CR is the learned response elicited by a conditioned stimulus.

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

The process in which the conditioned stimulus is presented in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus, causing the conditioned response to weaken and eventually disappear.

What is spontaneous recovery?

The reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.

How does generalization work in classical conditioning?

Stimuli similar to the initial conditioned stimulus elicit a conditioned response.

What are the components of operant conditioning as described by Skinner?

Antecedents of behaviour, actual behaviours, and consequences that follow behaviours.

What is positive reinforcement?

A response is strengthened by presenting a stimulus that follows it.

What is negative reinforcement?

A response is strengthened by the removal of an aversive stimulus.

What is the difference between positive punishment and negative punishment?

Positive punishment adds an aversive stimulus to weaken a response, while negative punishment removes a stimulus to weaken a response.

What are the four schedules of reinforcement?

Fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, and variable-interval schedules.

What is the role of biological preparedness in learning?

It indicates that certain behaviours are easier to teach if they relate to an animal's evolutionary history.

What is observational learning?

Learning through observing the behaviour of others and the consequences that follow.

What are the four basic steps of the modeling process according to Bandura?

Attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.