AP Psychology Unit 4 Learning Classical Conditions

Associative Learning

Result of events that are paired or linked through cause and effect

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Ivan Pavlov

Ran an experiment with dogs to prove classical conditioning by adding a noise stimuli to food.

unconditioned stimulus

a stimulus in the environment that triggers a response
example: a virus, smell of perfume, food

unconditioned response

In classical conditioning, the UNLEARNED, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus (US), such as salivation when food is in the mouth.

Neutral stimulus

A stimulus which has NO EFFECT on a person. This in classical conditioning does not produce a response example: a noise or thing not linked or paired yet

conditioned response

A LEARNED response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus example: new response to a sound

John Watson

Concludes that classical conditioning applies to humans and could be used to create a phobia in the Little Albert Experimen

Phobia

an irrational fear that is out of proportion to the danger example: fear of cute animals vs fear of getting hit by cars

Garcia effect

conditioned taste/food aversion, when attribute a certain food to illness

taste aversion

a learned avoidance of a particular food
example: avoiding bananas after getting sick from it

Extinction

the diminishing of a conditioned response
example: not being afraid of dogs anymore

Generalization

the tendency to respond to a new stimulus as if it were the original stimulus
example: fearing snakes AND lizards when you didn't have a bad experience with snakes

Stimulus Discrimination

The lack of a conditioned response to a new stimulus that resembles the original conditioned stimulus
example: hating lizards but liking snakes

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequence, occurs as a result of a consequence such as reinforcement or punishment

Edward Thorndike

Law of Effect that claims behaviors that are most likely to be repeated are those met with good consequences
tested cats repeating an escape for food

B.F. Skinner

Known for behaviorism and among his many accomplishments were the creation of the operant conditioning chamber (aka the Skinner Box) and his research on operant condition

Positive Punishment

ADDING stimulus to eliminate undesired behavior
example: adding chores as a punishment

Negative Punishment

SUBTRACTING stimulus in order to eliminate undesired behavior
example: taking away your phone

Positive Reinforcement

ADDING stimulus that reinforces desired behavior
example: adding a gift in result of good grades

Negative Reinforcement

SUBTRACTING something UNPLEASANT to get the correct behavior
example: stopping your RECURRING alarm

Primary Reinforcers

Those that are naturally occurring for a given species
example: food, water

Secondary Reinforcer

those that items which are viewed as helpful and are learned or associated with effectiveness
example: phone, money, candy

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcement in which all correct responses are rewarded. (Fastest way to learn a new behavior)

Intermittent Reinforcement

Rewarding some, but not all correct responses or behaviors. Most efficient way to maintain a learned behavior. (Most resistant to extinction)

Shaping

occurs when reinforcement is given or applied in successive order to gain closer and closer approximations of a desired behavior

Ratio

Amount

Fixed Ratio Schedule

are those in which a response is reinforced only after a SPECIFIED number of responses.
example: $20 for each A in a class

Variable Ratio Schedule

occurs when a response is reinforced after an UNPREDICTABLE number of responses.
example: varying amount for each A in a class

Interval

Time

Fixed Interval Schedule

those where the first response is rewarded only after a SPECIFIED amount of time has elapsed.
example: getting paid every Wednesday

Variable Interval Schedule

occurs when a response is rewarded after an UNPREDICTABLE amount of time has passed.
example: a real estate agent being paid varying amounts per house

Social Learning

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
example: wearing something people like or find trendy

Social Learning Theory

examines and explains how people learn through observing others. The process of learning behaviors by watching and mimicking others, who are called models

Albert Bandura

He is known as the originator of social learning theory and is also responsible for the influential 1681 Bobo Doll Experiment

Vicarious Learning

another term to call learning something by watching someone

Bobo Doll Experiment

Children exposed to adults who modeled aggressive behavior against a Bobo Doll. They exhibited almost identical aggressive behavior which was learned through observation

Bandura' 4 Elements of Social Learning Theory

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
(works best with the SAME species)

Wolfgang Kohler

landmark study on cognition of primates (The Mentality of Apes)

Insight Learning

Occurs when people or an animal recognize relationships that can help them solve new problems

Kohler's claim

animals are capable of solving problems by understanding. They show awareness of key relationships between cause and effect/trial and error

Latent Learning (Edward Tolman)

Knowledge that is gained subconsciously and only becomes necessary when a person needs to display it
example: a COGNITIVE MAP: knowing where a place is when looking for it

Edward Tolman's claim

Argued that humans engage in a special type of learning everyday, as we drive or experience the same daily routines, locations, and objects

Conditioned Stimulus

Linked to a stimulus that produced NO previous response to achieve a conditioned (learned) response

John Garcia

Researched taste aversion (Garcia Effect)

Edward Tolman

Studied latent learning with rats and mazes to research upon a cognitive map

spontaneous recovery

the reappearance of the conditioned response after a rest period or extinction example: being afraid of dogs again after another bad experience