AP Psych Unit 3B Learning

classical conditioning

NS→UCS→UCR

acquisition

the moment learning has occurred

neutral stimulus

stimulus that does not cause a response

natural stimulus

stimulus that always causes a reflex action

extinction

if the CS is presented w/o the US, the CR ceases

spontaneous recovery

CR reappears after a period of extinction

stimulus generalization

the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to CS

stimulus discrimination

the ability to distinguish between the CS and other stimuli

higher order conditioning

associating a new neutral stimulus wits a previously conditioned stimulus (like getting anxiety from overhead lights before hearing the squeaky shoes)

counter conditioning

classical conditioning can relieve fears (Mary Cover Jones reversed “Little Albert”

Taste aversion

not all stimuli are the same-taste (learning to dislike a food after it got u sick

one trial conditioning

learning takes place in a single pairing of a response and stimulus-phobias

biological preparedness

more likely to learn associations that enhance its survival

predisposition

more likely to be conditioned to stimuli that are ecologically relevant (fear of snakes rather than flowers)

habituation

occurs when organisms grow accustomed to and exhibit a diminished response to a repeated or enduring stimulus (tuning out the sound of a ticking clock)

The Law of Effect

Behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated.
Behaviors followed by negative consequences are less likely to be repeate

Edward Thorndike

famous for the Law of Effect, cat in box with levers

B.F. Skinner

known for operant conditioning; behavior is determined by its consequences, rewards, and punishments; trained pigeons to attack targets

reinforcement

a consequence that increases the likelihood of the response being repeated

positive reinforcement

+:)↑

negative reinforcement

-:(↑

punishment

any event whose presents decrease the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

positive punishment

+:(↓

negative punishment

-:)↓

generalization in operant conditioning

A child who was praised for cleaning their room might also start cleaning all the areas of the house without being prompted

discrimination in operant conditioning

A dog learning to sit only one given the command to sit and not when hearing other words

primary reinforcer

an unlearned stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need (getting food when hungry) CONSEQUENCE

secondary reinforcer

aka conditioned reinforcer; a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its associations with an primary reinforcer (learned reward) (money) CONSEQUENCE

shaping

teaching a new behavior by reinforcing successive approximations (step by step learning) (slowly teaching a dog to grab the newspaper by starting with just going outside)

instinctive drift

tendency to revert back to biologically predisposed patterns

superstitious behavior

we believe that incidental factors caused reinforcement

learned helplessness

exposure uncontrollable aversive events produces passive behavior (Seligman’s dogs)

continuous reinforcement

the desired response is reinforced every time

(learn fast, extinction is likey)

partial reinforcement

only SOME correct responses are reinforced

(longer to learn and extinction is unlikely)

fixed ratio

certain number of correct responses

variable ratio

changing number of responses varies from trial to trial

fixed interval

specific amount of time

variable interval

veryi f length of time following last reinforcement

Albert Bandura’s The Bobo the Doll experiment

experiment that proved that children who observe the aggressive model were more likely to exhibit the recipe behavior

vicarious conditioning

learning that occurs when someone observes the actions and consequences of another person, and then changes their own behavior based on what they saw

modeling

what individuals observe and remember the actions of others then replicate those behaviors

mirror neurons

frontal lobe; fire when observing; may enable imitation/empathy

social cognitive theory

observation and memorization equals imitation (steps: attention, retention, motor reproduction, motivation)

Wolfgang Kohler

accessed how Sultan the chimpanzee solved challenges like distant bananas (animals could engage in complex problem solving similar to humans)

insight learning

learning that occurs rapidly as a result of a sudden understanding of the problem (Kohler’s chimps)

Edward Tolman

known for latent learning and cognitive map; rats in a maze (a group that was initially not reward, when they received a reward they finished the maze faster than the group that always got the reward)

latent learning

Learning that it occurs, but not demonstrated until a reinforcement is available (Tolman’s Rat Study)

cognitive map

a mental representation of the layout of one’s environment