AP Psych Unit 4 Learning

learning

the process of acquiring through experience new and relatively enduring information and behaviors

types of learning

classical conditioning (learn to expect/prepare for events)
operant conditioning (learn to repeat acts that bring rewards and avoid acts that bring unwanted results)
cognitive learning (learn new behaviors through observation or language)

learned associations feed our

habitual behaviors

habituation

decrease responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together the events may be 2 stimuli or a response and its consequence

stimulus

any events/situation that evokes a response

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment producing consequences

classical and operant conditioning work together to

learn

cognitive learning

the acquisition of mental information whether by observing events, watching others and through language

classical conditioning

type of learning in which we link 2+ stimuli

Pavlov

explored classical conditioning
He used 1st stimuli a tone comes to elicit behavior of dog drooling in anticipation of 2nd stimuli food

behaviorism

the view that psychology should be 1) objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes
most agree with 1 not 2

John Watson

founder of behaviorism

Pavlov and Watson share a

disdain mentalistic concepts such as consciousness and basic laws of learning are same for humans and animals

neutral stimulus (NS)

a stimulus that elicits no response behavior

unconditioned stimulus (US)

a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers an unconditioned response

unconditioned response (UR)

an unlearned naturally occurring response to a US
ex salvation to food

conditioned response (CR)

a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

an originally neutral stimulus that after associated with an US triggers a CR

acquisition

initial learning of stimulus response relation, when one links a NS and US so NS begins to trigger CR

acquisition shows CC is

biologically adaptive by helping prepare for good/bad events

higher-order conditioning (second-order conditioning)

a procedure where a CS and NS are paired

extinction

diminishing of a CR when US is absent

spontaneous recovery

reappearance of an extinction of CR

generalization

similar stimuli to CS resulting in the response to occur
ex similar sounding tone -> dog salivates

discrimination

learned ability to distinguish between a CS and similar stimulus that do not signal a US

discrimination, being able to recognize differences, is

adaptive

Pavlov findings

many other responses to many other stimuli can be CC in organism, a way to adapt to environment
show learning process can be studied objectively

Watson's theories/experiments influenced by

Pavlov's findings

CC technique used to improve

health and well-being, drug additions, immune system

operant conditioning

type of learning in which behavior becomes more likely to recur if followed by a reinforcers or less likely to recur if followed by punisher

operant behavior

behavior that operates on environment to produce reward/punish stimuli

law of effect

Thorndike's principle that behavior followed by favorable consequences become more likely and less likely unfavorable consequences become less likely

B.F Skinner

used Thorndike's principle and developed behavior technology that revealed principles of behavior control

Skinner's operant chamber explored

precise conditioning that foster efficient/enduring learning

operant chamber

a chamber/skinner box containing bar/key an animal manipulates to obtain food/water reinforcement and devices to measure rates of bar pressing/key pecking

reinforcement

any event that strengthens the behavior it follows depending on animal/human condition

shaping

procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer to desired behavior

shaping is used to shape

complex behaviors gradually and understand what nonverbal organisms can perceive

driscriminative stimulus

a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement

positive reinforcement

increase behaviors by PRESENTING positive reinforcers
any stimulus when PRESENTED after a response and strengthen the response

negative reinforcement

increase behaviors by STOPPING/REMOVING aversive stimuli
any stimuli when REMOVED after a response strengthens it

positive and negative reinforcers can work together to

strengthen behavior

primary reinforcers

an innately reinforcing stimulus, no learning required
needs for life ex: food water

conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer

imediate reinforcers

offer immediate payback
animals will repeat reward behavior

delayed reinforcers

require the ability to delay gratification

unlike animals humans respond to

delayed reinforces showing maturity and leads to increase competent
ex - not using your starbucks stars to get a free drink at 150 and wait to get that free merchandise at 400

reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs leading to fast learning and extinction does too

partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

reinforcing response but only sometimes
leads to slower learning and extinction

fixed-ratio schedule

every so many, reinforcement after nth behavior
ex buy 10 coffee get 1 free

variable-ratio schedule

unpredictable number, reinforcement after random # behavior
ex winning of slot machines

fixed-interval schedule

every so often, reinforced behavior after a fixed time
ex Wednesday BOGO at Pizza T

variable-interval schedule

unpredictable time, reinforced behavior after random time
ex pop quiz

response rates are higher when reinforcement is link with

number of responses ratio schedules

responses rates more consistent when reinforcement is

unpredictable

punishment

an event that decrease behavior that follows it

punishment that is more effective on behavior

swift and severe

positive punishment

give an adverse stimulus
ex getting a speeding ticket

negative punishment

withdraw a rewarding stimulus
ex getting your phone taken away

punishment is bad because

1) temporarily suppresses bad behavior
2) teaches discrimination among situations, where or where not to have bad behavior
3) teaches fear thro generalization
4) may increase aggression by showing violence can solve problems

punishment tells you what NOT to do

Reinforcement tells you what TO do

Skinner says

external influences shape behavior not internal
thoughts/feelings
use rewards to increase desirable behaviors

Critics say Skinner try to control people but he argues

external consequences already aimlessly control people so why not use reinforcement, more humane than punishment, for human betterment