Chapter 6 Psychology:Learning

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience

Ivan Pavlov discovered what

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

A type of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after it is paired with a stimulus that naturally brings about that response

Neutral stimulus

A stimulus that, before conditioning, does not naturally bring about the response of interest

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Naturally brings about a particular response without having been learned

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Is natural and needs no training

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A once neutral stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Conditioned Response (CR)

A response that, after conditioning, follows a previously neutral stimulus

Phobia

Are intense, irrational fears

Extinction

A basic learning phenomenon that occurs when a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and disappears

Spontaneous Recovery

The reemergence of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest and with no further conditioning

Stimulus Generalization

A process in which after a stimulus has been conditioned to produce a particular response, stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus produce the same response

Stimulus Discrimination

The process that occurs if two stimuli are sufficiently distinct from one another, and provides that ability to differentiate between stimuli

Operant Conditioning

Learning in which a voluntary response is strengthened or weakened, depending on the response’s favorable or unfavorable consequences

Thorndikes Law of Effect

Responses that lead to satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated

The Skinner Box

A chamber with a highly controlled environment, used to study operant conditioning with laboratory animals

Reinforcement

The process by which a stimulus increases then probability that a preceding behavior will be repeated

Reinforcer

Ant stimulus that increases the probability that a preceding behavior will occur again

Primary Reinforcer

Sastifies some biological need and works naturally, regardless of previous experience

• ex : food, water

Secondary Reinforcer

Ex : money

Positive Reinforcer

A stimulus added to the environment that brings about an increases in a preceding response

Negative Reinforcer

An unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated

Punishment

A stimulus that decreases the probability that a previous behavior will occur again

Positive Punishment

Weakens an undesirable response through the application of an unpleasant stimulus

• adds something to the environment

• Ex: Spanking

Negative Punishment

Weakens an undesirable response through the removal of something pleasant

• removes something from the environment

• Ex: no video games

Pros of Punishment

• Appropriate for dangerous behaviors

• Temporary Suppression provides an opportunity to reinforce more desirable behaviors

Cons of punishment

• Frequently ineffective.

• Punished behavior may be replaced by even less desirable behavior.

• Physical punishment can
  cause harm.

  • Fear, lowered self-esteem.

• Does not relay information about alternative, more desired behavior.

Schedule of Reinforcement

The pattern of frequency and timing of reinforcement following desired behavior(s)

Continuous Reinforcement Schedule

Reinforcing of a behavior every time it occurs

Partial(intermittent) reinforcement schedule

Reinforcing of a behavior some but not all of the time

Fixed-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement is given only after a specific number of responses are or have been made

Variable-Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement occurs after an average number of responses, but the reinforce t schedule is unpredictable

Fixed-Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is provided for a responses only after a fixed time period has elapsed

Variable-Interval Schedule

The time between reinforcements varies around some average rather than being fixed

Stimulus Control Training

Behavior reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus, but not in its absence

Discriminative Stimulus

Signals the likelihood that reinforcement will follow a response

Shaping

The process of teaching a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

• Starr by reinforcing any behavior similar to the behavior you want the person to learn

• Later, you reinforce only responses that are closer to the behavior you ultimately want to teach

• Finally, you reinforce only the desired response

Behavior Modification

A technique for increasing the frequency of one’s desirable or undesirable behaviors

Typical steps for Behavior Modification

1. Identify goals and target behaviors you would like to reach or work on

2. Design a data-recording system and record preliminary data

3. Select a behavior-change strategy

4. Implement the program

5. Keep careful records after the program is implemented

6. Evaluate and alter the ongoing program

Cognitive Learning Theory

An approach to the study of learning that focuses on the thought processes that underlie learning.

Broken down to its basic formation, it suggests that it isn’t enough to think and say that people respond because there is an assumed link between a stimulus and a response

Instead, the idea is that people developed an expectation ( not a link ) that they will receive a reinforcer after making a response

Latent Learning

Learning in which a new behavior is not demonstrated until some incentive is provided for displaying it

• occurs without reinforcement

Cognitive Map

A ,metal representation of spatial locations and directions

According to what psychologist says a major part of human learning is observational learning b

Albert Bandura

Observational Learning

Learning by observing the behavior of another person or model

• Classic Bobo doll experiment

• Views as a social phenomenon, it is often referred to as. Asocial cognitive approach to learning g

What are the beliefs of the Order of Events concept on Operant Conditioning.

Reinforcement leads to an increase in behavior, and punishment leads to a decrease in behavior