Avoidance Behavior in Classical and Instrumental Conditioning

What is avoidance behavior?

Behavior that increases the occurrence of instrumental behavior to avoid an aversive stimulus.

What are the two types of avoidance behavior?

Active Avoidance and Passive Avoidance.

What is Active Avoidance?

A procedure where the subject must make an operant response to avoid an aversive stimulus.

What is Passive Avoidance?

A procedure where the subject is punished with an aversive stimulus for making the operant response.

Who conducted the first avoidance conditioning experiments?

Vladimir Bechterev in 1913.

What was the main finding of Bechterev's experiments?

Subjects learned to lift their finger before receiving a shock after a warning stimulus.

What did Brogden et al. (1938) contribute to the study of avoidance behavior?

They highlighted the differences between standard classical conditioning and conditioning with an avoidance component.

What is the role of the warning stimulus (CS) in avoidance conditioning?

It signals the potential for an aversive stimulus (US) to occur.

What is the difference between avoidance trials and escape trials?

In avoidance trials, the subject successfully avoids the US; in escape trials, the US is delivered if the subject fails to respond in time.

What is discriminated (signaled) avoidance?

A method where trials begin with a warning stimulus, and subjects must respond within a time limit to avoid the US.

What are the two types of shuttle avoidance?

Two-way shuttle avoidance and one-way shuttle avoidance.

In two-way shuttle avoidance, what does the animal have to do?

The animal must move to the opposite side of the box when the warning CS is presented.

In one-way shuttle avoidance, how does the animal respond?

The animal always starts on the same side of the box, making the instrumental response in the same direction.

What happens during an avoidance trial?

The subject makes the required response during the CS, avoiding the US.

What happens during an escape trial?

The subject fails to respond in time, receives the US, and can respond to escape it.

What is the significance of the Brogden et al. study with conditioned guinea pigs?

It demonstrated the effectiveness of avoidance conditioning compared to classical conditioning.

What is the outcome of successful avoidance behavior?

The US (e.g., shock) is omitted on that trial.

What is the outcome of unsuccessful avoidance behavior?

The US is delivered, and the subject may respond to escape it.

What did the percentage of conditioned responses indicate in Brogden et al.'s study?

Only the avoidance group learned to make the conditioned response to prevent shock delivery.

What is the role of operant responses in avoidance conditioning?

They are necessary for the subject to avoid or escape the aversive stimulus.

What is the relationship between avoidance behavior and instrumental conditioning?

Avoidance procedures are a type of instrumental conditioning that increase the likelihood of certain responses.

What does the term 'CS' stand for in avoidance conditioning?

Conditioned Stimulus.

What does the term 'US' stand for in avoidance conditioning?

Unconditioned Stimulus.