Module 21: Basic Learning Concepts and Classical Condidtioning

Learning

The process of acquiring new and relatively enduring information or behaviors through experience

Associative Learning

Learning that certain events occur together. The events key be two stimuli (classical conditioning) or a response and its consequence (operant conditioning)

Conditioning

The process of learning situations

Stimulus

Any event or situation that evokes a response

Respondent Behavior

Behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

Operant Behaviors

Behavior that operates on the environment, producing a consequence

Cognitive Learning

The acquisition of mental information, whether by observing events, by watching others, or through language

Observational Learning

A form of cognitive learning, where we learn from others’ experiences

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning where we link 2 or more stimuli

Pavlov’s Dog

The first stimulus (a bell) triggers a behavior (drooling) in anticipation of the second stimulus (food)

Behaviorism

Created by John B. Watson. The view that psychology should be an objective subject & study behavior without reference to inner mental processes (most psychologists today agree with 1st but not 2nd point)

Neutral Stimuli (NS)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning

Unconditioned Response (UR)

In classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response (like salvation) to an unconditioned stimulus (like food in the mouth)

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally triggers an unconditioned response (UR)

Unconditionally

Naturally and automatically

Conditioned Response (CR)

In classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

In classical conditioning, an originally neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response

Acquisition

In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus to an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response

It helps humans and other animals prepare for good or bad events + helps organisms survive

How is classical conditioning biologically adaptive?

Higher-Order Conditioning

A procedure in which the conditioned stimulus in one conditioning experience is paired with a new neutral stimulus, creating a second (usually weaker) conditioned stimulus

High-order conditioning

An animal has learned that tone predicts food, then learns that light predicts the tone, so the animal responds to the light itself. What is this called?

Extinction

In classical conditioning, the diminishing of a conditioned response. When an unconditioned stimulus no longer follows a conditioned stimulus

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance, after a pause, of a weakened conditioned response

Generalization

In classical conditioning, the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for stimuli similar to the conditioned response to trigger similar responses

Discrimination

In classical conditioning, the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus