Psych 124 Vocabulary/Concepts

rational decider model

decision-making process where one weighs different factors and ranks choices

issues with the rational decider model

1. “Homonculus problem”

2. ignores context, learning, and automatic processes (cannot explain some of the confusing things we may do)

3. invites blame instead of understanding

4. akrasia

—> we have a decider function BUT this is only ONE driver of our behavior

what is the Homonculus problem, what behavioral model does it support, and what is a refute to it?

idea that little person in brain helps make decisions (connection to rational decider model)

—> BUT lacks accountability and pushes question around without providing answer

what is akrasia? what behavioral model does this philosophical state refute?

tendency to act against one’s better judgement (“without power/strength”)

how do proximate and ultimate explanations relate to each other?

they are complementary ways of defining behavior by separating the immediate (proximate) causes from the ultimate (long-term/evolutionary) causes/explanations

what is the difference between functional and mechanistic properties of behavior?

why/how is someone doing X?

—> the current function that the behavior

1. answers the “why”

2. measured by some outcome

3. has testable predictions (ex - can predict/test what one’s behavior will be in a specific situation - should align w their goal (function!))

—> the underlying mechanisms by which behavior is implemented

1. explains the “how”

2. specifies links between how u get from A to B to C

3. relates to equifinality and multifinality

   1. equifinality: many causes can —> the SAME outcome

   2. multifinality: SAME cause can —> many different outcomes

behavior varies in ____ and _____

energy / direction

one can describe behavior with different ______ and different _______

degrees of specificity / temporal scales

What are Marr’s 3 Levels of Analysis?

multiple levels of analysis for explaining behavior

1. (functional)/computational - goal/reasoning

2. (mechanistic) algorithmic - abstract processes/logic

3. (mechanistic) implementational - physical means

what is emergence in Marr’s 3 Levels of Analysis?

smaller parts add up to form larger, higher-level properties

what is downward causation in Marr’s 3 Levels of Analysis?

the larger whole influences the smaller, individual parts

what does Frankfurt define as intentional action?

if action is guided by individual and they are able to intervene so that the result can align with the goal (can correct its course)

what is drive?

internal state of biological/psychological tension which leads to behavior that reduces drive

• homeostasis

• allostasis

homeostasis (drive) def

notice discrepancy in internal state of tension —> do smth to lessen it

allostasis (drive) def

use prior knowledge to make a prediction about a discrepancy within ( biological/psychological tension) —> do something to regulate drive)

what is a mode?

a suite of inter-related modes (each provides representations of good vs bad and ways to tune these representations)

what are the 5 modes?

1. reflexes

2. trial and error

3. mental stimulation

4. mentalizing

5. language

what are reflexes?

automatic responses to specific stimulus, ballistic cue-response

what are properties of reflexes?

• BALLISTIC — once triggered, usually run to completion

• differ in wiring and rely on

  • sensory neurons

  • interneurons

  • motor neurons

• can be modulated by context, emotional state, and prior experience

what are instincts?

sequence of reflexes, where each step triggers the next in context

what is classical conditioning

associative form of learning (stimulus-response association)

acquisition (CC)

learning new association with repeated CS-US

extinction (CC)

gradual weakening of CS-US association

spontaneous recovery (CC)

extinguished response returns when CS presented after delay

reacquisition (CC)

faster relearning of extinguished stimulus than initially

generalization (CC)

extending associative learning to similar cues

• generalization gradient VERSUS stimulus discrimination (opposite)

difference btwn reflexes/instincts and association/prediction/learning

reflexes/instincts = starter set of what is good/bad

association/prediction/learning = can tweak goodness/badness of things

what did the Claparede pinprick experiment show us

conditioning can give neutral stimuli a negative association even if the person does not remember

what is limitation of reflexive learning?

only encompass natural behaviors

trial and error mode

basal tendency to proactively generate behavior, then notice associations between action and consequences (OPERANT learning)

classical VS operant conditioning

classical - make association (this cue means this)

operant - if I DO this, smth good/bad will happen (increase or decrease behavior depending on the goodness/badness of consequences)

positive reinforcement

add something good to reinforce/increase behavior

negative reinforcement

take something away to reinforce/increase behavior

positive punishment

add something bad to decrease behavior

negative punishment

take away something good to decrease behavior

Thorndike’s Law of Effect and example of it

behaviors with good outcomes are more likely to be repeated (and vice versa)

• ex) fish studies

what is shaping?

gradually changing behavior towards some desired target by reinforcing successive approximations of desired behaviors (do NOT reward immediately)

what is partial reinforcement?

only reinforce behavior SOMETIMES

what are the different partial reinforcement schedules?

schedules based on response frequency:

• fixed ratio

• variable ratio

schedules based on time interval:

• fixed interval

• variable interval

how can operant conditioning backfire?

CompStat Operation for violent crime rate —> Goodhart’s Law (when measure becomes a target, ceases to be a good measure)