Foundational Concepts in Learning

These flashcards cover essential concepts from the lecture notes on foundational concepts in learning, including classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement schedules, and notable psychological figures.

What is learning defined as?

A relatively durable change in behavior or knowledge resulting from experience.

What is an experience?

Any event in which you participated, as either an actor or observer.

What are behaviors often reactions to?

A prompt of some kind.

What are stimuli?

Any detectable sensory input from the environment.

How is intensity measured?

The strength or magnitude of a stimulus on a relevant scale.

What does duration refer to in the context of stimuli?

How long a stimulus lasts; it can range from a fraction of a second to hours.

What does frequency measure?

How often a stimulus is presented or occurs.

What is a response?

Any specific occurrence of behavior following a stimulus.

What is the stimulus impact?

The effect a stimulus has on a response.

What is habituation?

The process by which we 'tune out' and stop responding to irrelevant stimuli.

What does learning involve according to the notes?

Making associations between events.

What is contiguity?

The perceived relation between events in space and time.

Define classical conditioning.

Reflexive learning that occurs when previously neutral stimuli elicit autonomic responses.

What is an unconditional stimulus (UCS)?

A stimulus that reflexively triggers an autonomic response.

What is an unconditional response (UCR)?

The behavior or response triggered by a UCS.

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

Initially neutral, it elicits a response due to its association with the UCS.

What is a conditioned response (CR)?

The response originally elicited by the UCS, triggered by the CS.

Who was Ivan Pavlov?

A physiologist who studied digestions in dogs, contributing to our understanding of learning.

What experimental method did Pavlov use with dogs?

He observed that dogs salivated at sounds associated with food.

What is acquisition in classical conditioning?

The initial learning phase.

What is extinction?

When UCS no longer supports the predicted power of CS, leading to a degradation of CR.

What is spontaneous recovery?

When a CR suddenly returns after extinction is complete.

What does stimulation generalization refer to?

When a CR is triggered by a stimulus similar to the original CS.

What is stimulation discrimination?

When a CR is not exhibited in the presence of different stimuli.

What is one trial learning?

Learning that occurs from one experience.

What is biological preparedness?

The natural tendency to learn certain associations quickly due to survival value.

What is conditioned taste aversion?

When you avoid a food after it made you sick.

What are phobias?

Irrational fears acquired through classical conditioning.

Who is John B. Watson?

The father of behaviorism focused on the study of behavior.

What was the Little Albert experiment?

Watson's study demonstrating that emotions are acquired through classical conditioning.

What is operant conditioning?

Learning where voluntary behavior is controlled by consequences.

What does the Law of Effect state?

When you do something with a positive result, you're more likely to repeat it.

Who is Edward Thorndike?

A psychologist who conducted experiments on the law of effect.

What is a discriminative stimulus?

Signals when to emit a behavior to obtain a consequence.

Define reinforcement.

Consequences that increase a behavior's intensity, frequency, or duration.

What is positive reinforcement?

Performing behaviors to obtain or add pleasant consequences.

What is negative reinforcement?

Performing behaviors to make a disliked situation go away.

Define punishment.

Consequences that cause a decrease in behavior.

What are primary reinforcers?

Biologically based stimuli that help us survive, like food or water.

What are secondary reinforcers?

Stimuli that acquire power to maintain behavior through association with primary reinforcers.

What are tokens in behaviorism?

Secondary reinforcers that can be exchanged for goods and services.

What is intrinsic reinforcement?

Self-reinforcing behaviors that feel good to perform.

What is extrinsic reward?

An external reward received for behavior, like a paycheck.

What is continuous reinforcement?

When a reinforcer is delivered every time the target response occurs.

What is partial reinforcement?

Reinforcement that doesn't occur every time the behavior occurs.

Define interval in reinforcement schedules.

Time must pass before a reinforcer is available after a target behavior.

What is the difference between fixed and variable schedules?

Fixed schedules are consistent; variable schedules are inconsistent.

What is fixed-interval schedule?

Reinforcements available after set time periods, like monthly paychecks.

What is variable-ratio schedule?

Reinforcer delivery varies, determined by the average number of behaviors performed.

What is the role of punishers in behavior?

To make a specific behavior less likely to happen again.

Define positive punishment.

Behavior decreases because it's followed by the addition of an unwanted stimulus.

What is negative punishment?

When behavior decreases due to the loss of a desired stimulus.

Who was David Premack?

A psychologist known for Premack Principles in behavior analysis.

What is shaping in behaviorism?

Using reinforcement to guide behaviors toward a target.

What is instinctive drift?

The tendency for animals to revert to instinct-driven behaviors.

What is observational learning?

Learning by observing others perform behaviors.

What is vicarious punishment?

Less likely to perform a behavior because others were penalized.

What is vicarious reinforcement?

More likely to perform a behavior because others received rewards.

Define latent learning.

Cognitive learning that is not expressed until consequences support the behavior.

What is insight learning?

The sudden discovery of a solution to a problem.

What are the basic concepts of operant conditioning?

Regulating behavior by controlling its consequences.

What is differential reinforcement of successive approximations?

Reinforcement process that builds toward complex behaviors.

What are the key components of classical conditioning according to Pavlov?

Conditioned and unconditioned stimuli and responses.

How many times must a stimulus pair with the unconditioned stimulus for classical conditioning to occur?

Typically several times.

What did Watson believe emotions were?

Acquired through classical conditioning.

What does spontaneous recovery indicate?

A CR can return after a period of extinction.

What is the significance of taste aversion in learning?

A strong example of one-trial learning.

What did Skinner contribute to psychology?

He advanced behaviorism and developed methods for studying behavior over time.

What is reinforcement schedule?

The timing and frequency of reinforcer delivery relative to behavior occurrence.

What does the term 'operant conditioning' describe?

A learning process where behaviors are influenced by consequences.

How can behaviors be increased according to Premack Principles?

Using behaviors that naturally occur at high rates to encourage low-rate behaviors.

How do operant chambers (Skinner boxes) function?

Allow manipulation of consequences to observe behavior responses.

What is insight learning often compared to?

A sudden 'aha!' moment when solving a problem.

What are the characteristics of a fixed ratio schedule?

Reinforcement based on a consistent number of behaviors performed.

How does biological preparedness affect learning?

It allows for quick learning of associations that have survival value.

Explain the concept of positive reinforcers.

Consequences that maintain or increase the behavior they follow.

Define vicarious learning in psychology.

Learning from observing the experiences of others.

What distinguishes interval schedules of reinforcement?

They are based on the timing of behaviors relative to reinforcements.

How is generalization involved in classical conditioning?

It allows CRs to be triggered by stimuli similar to the original CS.

What is the impact of reinforcement on behavior according to Skinner?

It increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

What does operant conditioning emphasize in learning?

The role of rewards and consequences in influencing behavior.

Why is differential reinforcement important in shaping behaviors?

It reinforces behaviors progressively until the desired behavior is achieved.