Behaviorism

Question 1

what is behaviorism

Answer 1

• learning that involves observable changes in behavior
• this objective view largely ignores mental process
• behavior is a formula of inputs and outputs (stimulus causes a response)

Question 2

assumptions of behaviorism

Answer 2

• ALL behavior is developed through conditioning
• Principles of learning should apply equally to different behaviors and different animals
• humans are a tabula rasa (blank slate)- (the environment conditions us to behave in a certain way)
• learning is deterministic: for every event or action, there exists conditions that could cause no other event

Question 3

classical conditioning

Answer 3

• by ivan pavlov
• conditioning: forming associations or connections between experiences (stimuli) and neural impulses (responses)
• S–> R

Question 4

stimulus

Answer 4

anything in the environment/ an environmental change that one can response to, a causal agent

• the trigger that comes before and prompts a response
• NS = neutral stimulus

Question 5

response

Answer 5

the reaction prompted by a stimulus, the effect that follows a stimulus

Question 6

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 6

is something that causes an uncontrollable response
ex: UCS- puff of air blown in eye
UCR (response)- blinking

Question 7

unconditioned

Answer 7

unlearned or natural response

Question 8

conditioned

Answer 8

a learned response
ex: green light is gas pedal
red light is brake

Question 9

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 9

• the famous dogs
  • Step 1: NS (bell) = no response
  • Step 2: NS (bell) + UCS (meat) = UCR (salivate)
  • Step 3: CS (bell) = CR (salivate)

Question 10

NS becomes what/ same thing as

Answer 10

NS is the same as CS

Question 11

UCR becomes what/same thing as

Answer 11

UCR and CR are the same thing

Question 12

What makes the NS and UCR change?

Answer 12

the UCS elicits or triggers the UCR

• through paired associations of the UCS with the NS, a CS is produced
• remember that the NS is neutral so elicits nothing

Question 13

generalizations

Answer 13

when learned behaviors are produced in response to other similar stimuli

• the more similar the new context is to the old one, the more likely the old behavior will be performed
• similar stimuli trigger similar responses
• • fear is one of the most classically conditioned responses

Question 14

Little Albert Experiment

Answer 14

• example of generalization
• was conditioned to be afraid of the rat because pair association with loud sound
• he generalized beyond the experiment (rat) and was then scared of anything furry

Question 15

discrimination

Answer 15

when a learner figures out that only certain stimuli should trigger certain responses

• response is different due to specific features of the situation
• key to discrimination is identifying similarities and differences between situations
  ex: student is learning to ask friends for help, but not sure a test

Question 16

extinction

Answer 16

decline of response strength when a behavior is not reinforced or wen the CS is too often presented without the UCS, then the CR will eventually cease

• speed of distinction depends on history
• NOT the same as forgetting (connection still there but behavior is not being performed)

Question 17

spontaneous recovery

Answer 17

• the “riding a bike” effect
• • if CS is gone from the environment for a long time, it appears extinct
• • If CS returns and CR occurs without retraining, it is called spontaneous recovery

Question 18

can you unlearn and association?

Answer 18

NO

-we don’t ever unlearn or forget associations, they just become unused or new ones become learned more strongly