Learning

Learning is a lasting change in behavior or mental process as the result of an experience

Habituation:Learning not to respond to the repeated presentation of a stimulus

Mere Exposure Effect: a learned preference for stimuli to which we have been previously exposed

Behavioral learning: Forms of learning, such as classical and operant conditioning which can be described in terms of stimuli and responses.

Classical conditioning is more simple learning; a form of learning in which a previously neutral stimulus (stimulus without reflex-provoking power) acquires the power to elicit the same innate reflex produced by another stimulus.

Operant conditioning is more complex learning; voluntary, NOT Passive, learning based on consequence

Neutral Stimulus- bell- elicits no response at first

Unconditioned Stimulus- cause/food

Unconditioned Response- effect/salivate

Conditioned Stimulus- new cause/bell

Conditioned Response- new effect/salivate

Acquisition- The learning stage during which a conditioned response comes to be elicited by the conditioned stimulus. It doesn’t last forever

Extinction- when the CS is no longer associated with the UCS

Spontaneous Recovery- a response after a rest period of an extinguished conditioned response

Rescorla Wagner Theory- models classical conditioning and is unique because it explains how the unexpected can influence learning

Delayed Conditioning: present CS and while CS is still there, present UCS

Trace Conditioning: present CS, take a short break, then present UCS

Simultaneous Conditioning: CS and UCS are presented at the same time

Backward Conditioning: UCS is presented, then CS is presented

Little Albert- John Watson wanted to test aversion on a baby (Aversive Conditioning)

Aversion is where you are taught to hate & fear something you already love

Generalization- something is so similar to the CS, you end up getting a CR

Distinction- the ability to distinguish between two similar signals stimulus (something so different to the CS so you don’t get a CR)

Garcia and Koeling Study (bright-noisy-water experiment)- studied how rats make association and observed how some associations seem to be adaptive (learn to associate things for survival)

B.F. Skinner (Father of Operant Conditioning)- nurture over nature, Skinner Box

Edward Thorndike- instrumental learning, puzzle box for cats and concluded that behavior changes because of its consequences, rewards strengthen behavior, and if consequences are unpleasant, the stimulus-reward connection will weaken

Reinforcer- anything that increases behavior

punishment- anything that decreases a behavior, considered to be a primary process or a completely independent phenomenon of learning, distinct from reinforcement

positive means add or apply

negative means subtract or remove

Escape learning- occurs to terminate an unpleasant stimulus such as annoyance or pain, thereby negatively reinforcing the behavior

Avoidance Learning- you can transform escape learning into avoidance learning if you give a signal, such as a tone, before the unwanted stimulus

Premack principle (AKA Relativity Theory of Reinforcement): more probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors

Martin Seligman- learned helplessness, once you’re conditioned to expect pain without a way to escape it, eventually you will stop trying to escape it, even if an opportunity presents itself

Shaping- reinforcing small steps on the way to the desired behavior

Primary Reinforcer- Things that are rewarding in and of themselves

Secondary Reinforcer- Things we have learned to value

Continuous Reinforcement- Reinforce the behavior EVERY TIME the behavior is exhibited, usually done when the subject is first learning to make the association, acquisition occurs very quickly (but so does extinction)

Intermittent/Partial Reinforcement- Reinforce the behavior only SOME of the times it is exhibited, acquisition comes more slowly, but is more resistant to extinction. There are FOUR types of partial reinforcement schedules

Fixed Ratio- Provides a reinforcement after a SET number of responses

Variable Ratio- Provides a reinforcement after a RANDOM number of responses (very hard to get acquisition but also very resistant to extinction)

Fixed Interval- Requires a SET amount of time to elapse before giving the reinforcement

Variable Interval- Requires a RANDOM amount of time to elapse before giving the reinforcement (very hard to get acquisition but also very resistant to extinction)

Observational learning: Learning in which new responses are acquired after other’s behavior and the consequences of their behavior are observed

Albert Bandura and his BoBo Doll- we learn through modeling behavior from others

Observational Learning + Operant Conditioning= Social Learning Theory

Cognitive Learning- When we have “flashes of insight” when dealing with a problem where we have been experiencing trial and error; changes in mental processes, rather than as changes in behavior alone

Wolfgang Kohler & Sultan- believed Chimps could solve complex problems by combining simpler behaviors they had previously learned separately

Latent Learning- learning that occurs but isn’t apparent until the learner has an incentive to demonstrate it; Edward Tolman

cognitive map- mental representation