Psyc

Habituation and Sensitization

  • Non-associative Learning: Habituation and sensitization are types of learning that do not involve the association of two stimuli.

  • Habituation:

    • Occurs when repeated exposure to a stimulus leads to a decrease in response.

    • Example: Hearing a loud noise repeatedly results in less startled reaction over time, indicating learning that the noise is non-threatening.

  • Sensitization:

    • Occurs when a strong or aversive stimulus causes an increased response to a subsequent stimulus.

    • Example: A sharp poke might initially cause flailing, and further pokes may lead to even more intense reactions.

Types of Learning

  • Cognitive Learning and Observational Learning: Considered non-associative as they involve more complex learning processes unrelated to basic stimulus-response associations.

Classical Conditioning

  • Defining Features:

    • Involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

    • Example with Lightning and Thunder: Lightning (neutral stimulus) does not elicit an instinctive response, while thunder (unconditioned stimulus) does.

Operant Conditioning

  • Behavior-Based Learning:

    • Behaviors that are being either reinforced or punished.

    • Example: A dog learns to bark at males if it receives a reward for this behavior.

Behavioral Conditioning Example

  • Denna the Dog:

    • Initial exposure to ocean water is a novel experience.

    • Following tasting the salty water, she feels overstimulated and potentially disgusted, indicating an conditioned response.

Key Terms in Classical Conditioning

  • Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Stimulus that automatically elicits a response without prior learning.

  • Unconditioned Response (UR): The natural response to an unconditioned stimulus.

  • Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that initially does not provoke a response.

  • Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Previously neutral stimulus that, after pairing with a US, elicits a conditioned response.

  • Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus.

Specific Learning Phenomena

  • Taste Aversion: A specific instance where one experience can lead to strong conditioning, often related to survival instincts.

  • Generalization vs. Discrimination: Learning can either generalize to similar stimuli or discriminate between different stimuli based on past experiences.