Chapter 6 - Learning

Question 1

Define: Classical Conditioning

Answer 1

• Simplest form of learning
• Demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov
• Previously neutral stimuli can come to elicit new autonomic responses when paired with naturally effective stimuli

Question 2

Define: US, UR, CS, CR

Answer 2

-US: Unconditioned Stimulus; stimulus that reflexively causes response without conditioning
-UR: Unconditioned Response; response to nonneutral stimulus that does not need to be learned
-CS: Conditioned Stimulus; previously neutral stimulus that comes to elicit response through association with US
CR: Conditioned Response; response previously elicited by US now also elicited by CS

Question 3

Define: Extinction

Answer 3

-Loss of CS effectiveness when repeatedly presented without US

Question 4

Define: Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 4

-Renewed effectiveness of the CS without additional pairings with US; but at a lower level than previous peak response

Question 5

Define: Stimulus Generalization

Answer 5

-Recognizing similar stimuli to original CS as effective CSs; but at a lower rate

Question 6

Define: Stimulus Discrimiation

Answer 6

-Not recognizing dissimilar stimuli to original CS as effective CSs; limit to how different a stimulus can be

Question 7

Define: Higher-Order Conditioning

Answer 7

-Developing a CR to a CS by its association with another CS

Question 8

Explain how drug addiction and classical conditioning can interact to cause overdose

Answer 8

• Shep Siegel at McMaster
• Conditioned Compensatory Response increases tolerance in familiar environments
• When familiar environment is removed, compensatory response does not occur and tolerance goes down=possible overdose

Question 9

Factors influencing Classical Conditioning

Answer 9

NIRT

• Number of pairings of CS and US; more pairings=stronger CR
• Intensity of US paired with CS; eg., painful dog bite=faster conditioning
• how Reliable the CS predicts the US; eg., smoke alarm that only goes off when fire=more fear
• Temporal Relationship between CS and US; fastest conditioning when CS shortly before US

Question 10

Define: Exposure Therapy

Answer 10

• Using Extinction to gradually reduce the CR

- CS is incrementally presented at increasing levels

Question 11

Define: Operant Conditioning (vs classical)

Answer 11

• Behaviour is voluntarily emitted (“spontaneously exhibited”) and then followed by effect (reinforcement/punishment)
• VS Classical, where behaviour is elicited (“triggered”) in response to CS

Classical = Autonomic; John B. Watson
Operant = Voluntary; B.F. Skinner

Question 12

Define: Reinforcement (RF)

Answer 12

• Anything following a behaviour that increases that behaviour
• Operationally defined; no value judgement; so “bad” behaviours can be reinforced

Question 13

Define: Punishment (P)

Answer 13

• Anything following a behaviour that decreases that behaviour
• Operationally defined; no value judgement; so “good” behaviour can be punished

Question 14

Define: Positive and Negative in regards to operant conditioning

Answer 14

• Positive=something (stimulus) is presented
• Negative=something (stimulus) is taken away
• Both can either be RF(+/-) or P(+/-)

Question 15

Define: Shaping

Answer 15

• Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behaviour
• eg., getting rat to roll over in progressive steps: food only for standing still, lying down, leaning to one side, then finally, rolling over

Question 16

Define: Two process theory

Answer 16

Complex behaviour involves both types of learning and both involve processes like extinction, spontaneous recovery, generalization, discrimination

Question 17

Define: Continuous Reinforcement

Answer 17

-The idea that a RF must follow a response every time for max conditioning = wrong

Question 18

Define: Partial reinforcement

Answer 18

-Partial or intermittent schedules are better than continuous cond, in the long run

Question 19

Define: Variable Ratio schedule

Answer 19

• Best schedule for maintaining desired behaviour
• fixed vs variable = variable is best
• ratio vs interval = ratio is best

Question 20

Define: Fixed; Variable; Ratio; Interval schedules

Answer 20

• Fixed: reinforcement schedule is fixed
• Variable: reinforcement schedule is variable
• Ratio: Focus on number of correct responses
• Interval: Focus on how much time has passed

Question 21

Define: Behaviour Modification

Answer 21

• Application of basic principles of operant conditioning

- Favouring RF(+) over punishment

Question 22

Shortcomings of punishment

Answer 22

• Suppression of overall activity, inrease of subversive behaviour
• Increased aggression, distrust, anxiety
• Inappropriate modelling

Question 23

If you must punish, it should be

Answer 23

• (because of few positive behaviours to RF)

- Swift, severe, consistent, explain, make alternative response available, minimize physical punishment